Allon: There is Still Chance for Interim Agreement; Confers with Rogers, Sisco

Israeli Deputy Premier Yigal Allon emerged from a three hour meeting with Secretary of State William P. Rogers this afternoon confident that there still is a chance for an interim agreement between Israel and Egypt to reopen the Suez Canal. “The whole matter should be kept as secret as possible. Maybe something will come out of it. I am not pessimistic.” he told newsmen. Allon, who arrived here from Israel yesterday, conferred with Rogers and Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joseph J. Sisco in a meeting that ran from the lunch hour into the mid-afternoon. Allon was accompanied by Israeli Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin. The talks were concerned primarily with an interim agreement on the Suez Canal. Allon told newsmen that the three major elements of Israel’s proposals were the termination of belligerency by Egypt; no occupation of the east bank of the canal by Egyptian or Soviet forces or forces of the announced Egyptian Libyan-Syrian federation after Israeli withdrawal; options for an over-all peace settlement under the auspices of UN mediator Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring to be kept open. Allon did not rule out the possibility of an international force to police the east bank of the canal when and if Israeli forces pull back. Asked that question by reporters, he replied, “It could be a proposal.” He said Israel “wants to be sure that any change in the status quo will not be used against Israel militarily.”

Allon expressed appreciation for the American role of “middleman” in the negotiations for a partial interim settlement in the Suez Canal zone. “We always appreciate U.S. good offices,” he said. He observed that Ambassador Jarring “should stick to his original mandate which is the overall settlement.” He said “The partial settlement should be made by the parties with the good offices of the U.S.” Asked if the parties were close to a partial settlement, he said “Israel’s reply is a positive one. It would be a great pity if Egypt rejected it.” Questioned about increased Soviet military shipments to Egypt, Allon observed that it was U.S. policy to preserve the balance of power in the Middle East and said he saw no reason why Israeli needs would not be met. On his arrival here last night, Allon said the new Soviet arms shipments to Egypt have affected the balance of power in the region. He also said it was too early to assess the effect of the new tripartite Arab federation because Arab statements alternated from moderate to belicose. “Who knows what will be tomorrow. The sounds so far are not too good.” he said. He noted that the “entire Soviet presence on Egyptian soil is a source of worry to everybody.” At another point he said, “The United States is a super power and it has a lot to do. I don’t say specifically what.” In response to other questions at the airport, Allon said Israel has made it clear that it is ready to see the Suez Canal reopened. “We have no objection,” he said. “Anything that normalizes the situation in the Middle East is good.”