Two British destroyers–St. Kitts and Lagos–will make a five-day courtesy visit to Israel September 1-5, Israeli officials disclosed today. They will anchor off Tel Aviv.
Informed sources said that while Israel would observe all courtesies required by protocol, the projected withdrawal of Shell Oil Company and British Petroleum from Israeli sales activities was likely to dampen any man-on-the street cordiality to the visiting ships.
These sources said a more basic objective of the British was to “show the British flag” in the Mediterranean as a counter to the presence of the American Sixth Fleet and Soviet warships in the area.
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