Foreign Secretary George Brown, and a powerful pro-Arab element in the Foreign Office, have been aroused by announcement that Richard Crossman, Lord President of the Council, had accepted an invitation to speak at a rally here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the issuance of the Balfour Declaration promising the Jewish people a national home in Palestine, Foreign Minister Abba S, Eban of Israel is to come here to participate in the celebration. The anniversary falls on Nov. 2.
According to the pro-Arab bloc in the Foreign Office, the Arabs will interpret the presence of Mr. Crossman at the function as evidence of British Government support for Israel. The London Sunday Telegraph pointed out in this connection yesterday that Mr. Brown is making restoration of relations with Egypt and the Arab world the center of his policy. Mr. Crossman, the paper recalled, clashed violently with the then Foreign Minister, Ernest Bevin, over his anti-Zionist policy prior to 1948 and is regarded by Israelis as “one of their best friends in Britain.”
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