British Premier Says Both Sides in Mideast Must Make Concessions for Peace

Prime Minister Harold Wilson declared here tonight that Britain unequivocally supported Israel’s right to national existence and guaranteed security but warned that both sides in the Middle East conflict must observe restraint and accept concessions “in the longer term interests of peace.” Mr. Wilson addressed a dinner of the Poale Zion, (Labor Zionists) marking the 20th anniversary of its organ, “Vanguard.” He said that restraint and concessions by both sides were the “reality in human terms which lies behind the proposed Four Power talks designed not to impose a solution but to help our friends–all of our friends–in the Middle East to achieve peace and security.” He said that was “the reality in human terms which lay behind my recent talks with President Nixon in London where the Mideast occupied a prominent place on our agenda.”

The British Prime Minister said it would be wrong for him to discuss specifics of a Middle East solution because that problem occupies the attention of the Security Council and the Big Four. He added that the urgent need for a solution was emphasized by the flare-up of fighting yesterday along the Suez Canal.

Foreign Minister Abba Eban of Israel who arrived in London today enroute to a meeting with President Nixon in Washington, told newsmen he “did not believe the Middle East was on the verge of a generalized conflict.” He termed yesterday’s Suez artillery duel “just a cease-fire incident”, adding, “it is not the first and will not be the last.” The Israeli diplomat said he had great faith in the efforts of United Nations peace envoy, Gunnar V. Jarring.

(Earlier, Mr. Eban told interviewer at Lydda Airport that he saw no evidence of deterioration of any form in the traditionally friendly relations between Israel and the United States. Mr. Eban said his impression was that the Middle East policy of the Nixon Administration was a continuation of the policy of the previous administration.)

Mr. Eban’s arrival here coincided with a meeting between Foreign Secretary Michael Stewart and Egyptian President Nasser’s special diplomatic envoy Mahmoud Fawzi. Mr. Stewart reportedly told Mr. Fawzi that Britain had no new peace plans for the Middle East but was anxious to see a settlement. A spokesman for the Foreign Secretary said Britain stood firmly behind the Security Council’s Nov. 22, 1967 resolution calling for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories and an end to the Arab states’ “state of belligerency” toward Israel.

Mr. Wilson also referred to that resolution in his address to the Poale Zion and said that Britain gave its unequivocal support to the mission of Dr. Jarring which the resolution established. Mr. Wilson added, “We are conscious not only of the determination but of the right of Israel to guarantees equally of her existence and security. We seek no one-sided solution. At all times and whatever the cost we’ve insisted on the right of Israel to her national existence and security for that existence must be recognized and ensured.”