The Foreign Ministers of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon will announce in Cairo Saturday whether or not they will accept the American-sponsored Johnston plan for development of the Jordan River. Political circles believe they will reject the Johnston plan because of Israel-Egyptian clashes and Arab resentment over American opposition to the Egyptian-Czechoslovakian arms deal.
Eric Johnston, President Eisenhower’s special envoy to the Near East, disclosed yesterday he revised the Johnston plan to meet suggestions by Arab water experts that, among other things, a reservoir originally planned for the Yarmuk at Wadi Khalel would be built instead at Makarin in Arab territory.
From Tel Aviv it was reported today that Israel will resume work on her own national water development program if, as has been reported, the Arab states reject the Johnston plan for hydroelectric development of the Jordan River.
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