Big 4 Action Can Prevent Escalation of Mideast Violence, French Diplomats Say Diplomatic Shuffle in

French diplomatic circles expressed “gravity and concern” today over the renewed Israeli-Egyptian clashes in the Suez Canal area and stressed that “only joint action by the Big Four powers can prevent a further escalation of violence.” Foreign Minister Maurice Schumann was expected to renew his demand that the Four Powers–U.S., USSR, Britain and France–resume “in earnest their New York talks on the Middle East” in light of the latest Suez flare-up as “a last possible step to avert a renewal of hostilities.” French circles told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that “by now it is clear that one country alone (the U.S.) cannot succeed in finding a solution to the crisis. By now it has become clear that a solution can be found only through joint action by all the Four.”

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned meanwhile of an important diplomatic reshuffle in the ranks of the French Foreign Ministry which is expected to further weaken Israel’s position and increase the influence of the pro-Arab lobby. According to current plans, the French Ambassador in Cairo, Francois Puaux, is due to become Director of Political Affairs at the Ministry, a post second only to that of Director General which involves global planning of French diplomacy. Puaux is known to believe President Anwar Sadat’s claims that Egypt wants peace but is prevented from achieving it by Israeli intransigence.

The current director of the African and Middle Eastern departments at the Ministry. Bruno Leusse, a high-ranking diplomat with considerable personal influence in the Ministry, is due to replace Puaux in Cairo and is expected to give additional weight to Egyptian arguments and claims. France’s current Ambassador in London, Geoffrey de Courcel, is slated to become Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry, the top post for a career diplomat. The other candidate for that post was France’s current Ambassador to Washington, Charles Lucet.