Eban Discusses Jordan Valley Authority Plan with Johnston

Israel Ambassador Abba Eban has held a frank and detailed discussion here with Ambassador Eric Johnston, President Eisenhower’s personal envoy to the Near East, who is leaving Washington next week to visit the capitals of the Arab states and Israel in connection with the Jordan Valley Authority plan proposed by the United States.

Mr. Eban, it was revealed here today, presented the views of the Israel Government on the plan to Mr. Johnston and to his advisors, who participated in the conference. He also discussed Israel’s proposals for regional development of the Jordan River resources.

Last night, Mr. Johnston announced that he will leave for Cairo next Tuesday to meet with technical and political representatives of four Arab states. After that he will proceed to Tel Aviv to discuss with the government the Arab counter-proposals to the JVA plan. Mr. Johnston toured the Arab countries and Israel in his first presentation of the project last fall.

(From Jerusalem it was reported today that Israel’s plan for utilization of the waters of the Jordan and other streams in the area for the fullest benefit of both Israel and the neighboring Arab states has been completed and will be submitted to Mr. Johnston when he visits Israel later this month. The Israel plan is based on research carried out by noted Israeli and foreign experts and in some aspects it takes a stand in opposition to the Johnston-sponsored JVA project.)

The Johnston plan provides for division of the Jordan’s waters between Israel on the one hand and Syria and Jordan on the other; construction of power plants on the headwaters of the Jordan and on its tributary the Yarmuk, and irrigation of large areas in the three countries. In particular, the project would permit resettling 220,000 Arab refugees in the valley of the lower Jordan.