British, French Press Welcome Eban’s Proposal for Israeli-egyptian Negotiations

Israel’s stand on Middle East peace, stated by Foreign Minister Abba Eban in the Knesset yesterday, drew a favorable reaction here today. The Times said in an editorial that the speech, “though eminently the work of a reasonable man, also reflected the toughness of a people who feel they are under increasing political and military pressure.” (French newspapers also warmly welcomed what the influential Le Figaro headlined “Israeli peace proposals to the Arabs.” But French Government reaction was largely negative. Observers in Paris noted that it has emanated so far from relatively low echelons in the Foreign Ministry.) The Times referred specifically to Mr. Eban’s proposal that Israeli and Egyptian representatives meet informally at a mutually acceptable site to work out the preliminaries for future peace negotiations. According to the Times, the proposal was “a variation of the familiar Israeli demand for direct, face-to-face negotiations” and was “somewhat unreal.” The paper said the Israeli proposals were overshadowed by the current U.S.-Soviet discussions and noted that it was still “difficult to assess Russian aims in the Middle East.”

The Daily Telegraph reported today that the Soviet Government seemed to be urging President Gamal Abdel Nasser, of Egypt to take a relatively cooperative line in replying to the American peace initiative for the Mideast. The Soviets are expected to respond by switching emphasis away from direct talks with the U.S. to the Big Four talks at the United Nations, the Telegraph’s diplomatic correspondent wrote. He predicted “a wrangle among the Four Powers on the terms of a ‘package deal’ for a Mideast settlement.” (French Government circles referred to Foreign Minister Eban’s proposals as a “tactical propaganda move” and insisted that a settlement could emerge only from Four Power consultations and joint decisions. However, with most top ranking French officials off on their July 14 (Bastille Day) long week-end, there was no authoritative comment from the Quai D’Orsay. Foreign Minister Maurice Schumann was reportedly scheduled to brief President Georges Pompidou on the Eban proposals tomorrow. Mr. Eban’s speech was welcomed by the newspaper L’Aurore and the left-wing paper Combat. The latter noted in an editorial that “Israel has in the past made many approaches to try to reach a settlement with the Arabs and the latest is probably the most important and productive of them all.”)