The sudden appearance in England of Israel Premier David Ben Gurion has provoked all kinds of rumors here regarding the purpose of his visit, notwithstanding the fact that official announcements in Jerusalem and here yesterday said that his is “strictly a private visit,” connected solely with Mr. Ben Gurion’s interest in classical scholarship.
People here find it hard to believe that Israel’s Premier and head of the defense forces of the Jewish state should choose this time to devote himself to classical studies in England and to his hobby of collecting books and antiques, especially when this is his first trip abroad since the establishment of Israel.
It is pointed out that the Israel Premier cannot remain altogether indifferent to the talks between Britain and Egypt which are now going on in London with regard to releasing Sterling balances and to similar talks which are to open officially tomorrow between Britain and Israel. Nor is it considered logical that the Israel Premier has no interest whatscever in the issue of the defense of the Suez Canal and the Middle East which is now one of the major political issues in London.
The Manchester Guardian, one of Britain’s leading newspapers, today stresses the need for collective defense in the Middle East. It does not indicate the role which Israel would have to play in a joint defense scheme. However, observers here do not dismiss the possibility of some connection between Mr. Ben Gurion’s visit and plans for the defense of the Middle East, which are the hub of the talks now going on between England and Egypt.
David Horowitz, head of the Israel delegation which arrived here to negotiate the release by the British Government of Sterling balances to the Jewish state, today visited the Treasury. It has not yet been announced who will represent the British Government in the negotiations. Included in the Israel delegation is an oil expert and one of the assistant managers of the Israel National Bank.
The Histadrut delegation which artived here yesterday was welcomed today in the House of Commons by the Parliamentary members of the British Labor Party. A dinner in their honor will be tendered in the House of Lords tonight. The delegation visited the Treasury this morning and will confer tomorrow with leaders of the Trades Union Congress.
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