Allon Reaffirms He is Not Taking Any New Proposals to Washington

Foreign Minister Yigal Allon, who left for the United States today, told reporters before his departure, “I take with me to Washington no new proposals” beyond what he conveyed to Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger at their last meeting in Washington one month ago, Allon is scheduled to meet with Kissinger some time next week.

The Foreign Minister vehemently denied reports that Israel was offering additional cohesions for a second stage agreement with Egypt. He said, however, that despite recent hard line statements by Egyptian leaders, there were signs that a situation might develop whereby the Egyptian leaders would be willing to negotiate a second stage agreement with Israel.

Allon stated that his latest visit to Washington was timely in view of the cancellation of Soviet Communist Party Secretary Leonid I. Brezhnev’s visit to Cairo this month. He said the change in Brezhnev’s plans created a new situation about which Israel and the U.S. will have to exchange views. Allon cautioned; “Peace is not like instant coffee, It cannot be achieved on the spur of the moment. It takes time and must be reached gradually.”

Before holding talks with Kissinger, Allon will address various Jewish meetings and will be the keynote speaker at the United Jewish Appeal 1975 Western Region Leadership Conference at the Canyon Hotel in Palm Springs, California. More than 500 Jewish leaders from 15 western states are expected to attend.

After his visit to the U.S., Allon is scheduled to stop off in London on what is described as a “private” visit but is due to meet with British government leaders, including Prime Minister Harold Wilson, to seek a general review of the Middle East situation and Israel’s situation and prospects in Europe. Allon also has plans for an official visit to Bonn in the latter half of February and to The Hague and Paris later in the spring.