Israel Premier David Ben Gurion today received U.S. Ambassador Edward Lawson and handed him a reply to President Eisenhower’s letter of last week which induced him to order the withdrawal of the Israeli troops from the Gaza and Akaba areas.
The Premier’s letter today reportedly expressed appreciation for President Eisenhower’s efforts to achieve a solution of the Akaba-Gaza situation Mr. Ben Gurion reportedly referred to the President’s implied undertakings in behalf of freedom of navigation and security, and Israel’s belief in the justice and reasonableness of its hopes and expectations which the President had underlined in his missive.
Israel Foreign Ministry circles said today they were “extremely pleased” with the statement which President Eisenhower made at his press conference in Washington today (See page 2) that the United States might use the Strait of Tiran as an international waterway. At the same time it was announced that the 3,500 ton Danish freighter Brigitta Toft is scheduled to steam through the Strait of Tiran and clock at Elath March 20, becoming the first vessel to navigate the disputed waterway after Israel’s evacuation.
The unusual advance announcement of the vessel’s scheduled arrival was seen here as a deliberate attempt by Israel to give Egypt sufficient advance notice to test the effectiveness of the United Nations Emergency Force as a guarantor of freedom of passage.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
