Israel Ambassador Abba Eban met for almost an hour today with John D. Hickerson, Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs, and later said he discussed subjects on the United Nations agenda, especially those affecting the Middle East. The discussion would enable him to give his government the United States view on General Assembly questions, Mr. Eban said.
No formal reply was expected either from Israel or from the Arab countries to the request, submitted to them several days ago for their views on the organization of a Middle East command, it was indicated here today by Under-Secretary of States James E. Webb at a press conference.
Mr. Webb said that further talks would have to be held among the four powers–United States, Britain, France and Turkey–interested in securing Arab and Israel participation in the defense of the Middle East. These talks must be held before concrete plans are worked out, he emphasized.
(The New York Times reported today from Cairo that messages were sent to Arab state capitals yesterday proposing an immediate meeting of foreign ministers to discuss a common policy toward the Middle East Command proposals. The invitation was sent after Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Salah el-Din Pasha had met here this morning with diplomatic representatives of the Arab states. The date and the meeting place are uncertain. The messages were believed to have suggested a meeting next Saturday in Cairo.)
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