Lord Chalfont, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed fears today in House of Lords debate on the Middle East crisis that nuclear weapons might become involved. He said that for this reason, he would like to see a negotiated settlement not only of the Akaba Gulf blockade dispute but also of the wider tensions in the area. He warned that if nuclear weapons became available in areas of local conflict, the dangers of nuclear war would increase “almost beyond calculation.”
(From Bonn it was reported today that Israel asked West Germany today for 20,000 gas masks for its current civilian defense preparations. Chancellor Kurt Kiesinger and Foreign Minister Willy Brandt agreed to provide the gas masks but the Defense Ministry refused to send them without Cabinet approval. The matter will be taken, up at an urgent Cabinet meeting.)
Authoritative Government sources said here today that Prime Minister Wilson, who left today for Canada, will discuss with Canadian Prime Minister Lester Pearson responses by the world’s maritime nations to the Egyptian blockade of the Tiran Strait, It was reported that Mr. Wilson would like to have Mr. Pearson head a group of maritime nations to oppose the blockade, whether inside or outside the United Nations.
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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.
