President Eisenhower today discussed the Gaza issue with the National Security Council. (See page 4 for State Department views.)
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban last night delivered a special message to Under Secretary of State Christian Herter setting forth Israel’s views on the current Middle East situation which Mr. Eban described as “one of deep gravity” The Israel envoy cut short a Florida vacation to deal with recent developments affecting the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Eban told reporters following the meeting that he had been in consultation with Israel leaders and brought “a message from my government setting out the position. exactly as we see it–our appraisal which as you know is one of deep gravity.” He expanded on the viewpoint of the Israel Government to Mr. Herter and made “special references” to the views of Israel Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and Foreign Minister Golda Meir.
The Israel Ambassador especially referred to a speech delivered by Mrs. Meir on March 1 at the UN General Assembly and to a letter on March 2 by President Eisenhower to Mr. Ben Gurion. Mrs. Meir declared in her speech that Israeli troops would withdraw from Gaza on the “assumption” that the UN would resume responsibility for the area until a peace settlement or a definite agreement were worked out. President Eisenhower’s letter to Mr. Ben Gurion promised that the U. S. would try to assure that Israel’s hopes do “prove not to be in vain.”
Mr. Herter last night exchanged views and information on the Gaza situation with French Ambassador Herve Alphand and British Minister J. E. Coulson, the State Department made known.
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