Begin Decides Not to Cut Short Visit to Canada

Premier Menachem Begin considered the possibility yesterday of cutting short his visit to Canada to return to Israel, after a long telephone conversation with Defense Minister Ezer Weizman from Washington. Informed sources here said that Begin decided to continue his tour. He left Montreal early this afternoon for Toronto where he was received by Ontario Premier William Davis and his Cabinet.

It was believed that Weizman proposed an early return to Israel in view of the Cabinet’s rejection of some of the language of the draft peace treaty with Egypt now being negotiated in Washington. Weizman was expected to fly to Toronto tomorrow to brief Begin on the latest developments.

HAVE MADE ‘REAL EFFORT’ FOR PEACE, BEGIN SAYS

yesterday, Begin spoke at a luncheon given by the Federal government, which was hosted by Marc Lalonde, Minister of State for Federal and Provincial Relations. Addressing an array of important leaders and dignitaries and 400 Jewish community leaders of the Montreal Jewish community, Begin said, “There may be other problems to solve, but what we know is that we have made a real effort to achieve peace and never has a greater effort been made by any other nation.” Lalonde, raising his glass to Begin, said that at the recent Camp David peace talks, agreements were reached and there was “a clear evidence that painful concessions can be made by all parties in the interest of peace.”

Last night, Begin addressed a huge rally at the Shaar Hashamoyim Synagogue in Westmount, and his limousine outflanked a small group of PLO demonstrators chanting, “Down with Fascist Begin.” Begin was given a long standing ovation by 3000 people who packed the synagogue. Several hundred had to watch Begin on TV circuits, for lack of space inside. He said, “There has been enough bloodshed, suffering and tears. We wanted a peace where there were no victors, no vanquished, just equals. They used to say war is inevitable. I tell you that what is inevitable now is peace.”