Premier Levi Eshkol, arriving in London today for an informal visit, expressed the belief that “world statesmanship can play a great role in creating an atmosphere conducive to peace in the Middle East.”
He said he was looking forward to his three scheduled meetings tomorrow with Prime Minister Harold Wilson and his colleague. He noted that Mr. Wilson had visited Israel two years ago and that he would now meet the British labor party leader for the first time since he became Prime Minister. He added that he hoped to have discussions “on a broad range of Anglo-Israel relations and on the Middle East in general.”
He stated that he felt that over the years Anglo-Israel relations had developed very satisfactorily. “We have consistently found understanding of our situation and problems from all political groupings in Britain,” he reported. “There is great respect in Israel for British legal and democratic institutions and for the contributions of British thought towards world civilization.”
The visiting Premier recalled that, in the years immediately preceding Jewish statehood, when Britain was the mandatory power in Palestine, there were “some deep scars.” However, he added that “in the fulfillment of our statehood we do not forget Britain’s pioneering contribution through the Balfour Declaration in recognition of the Jewish people’s right to establish independence in the land of its fathers.”
WARNS OF POSSIBLE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS; MEETS WITH HARRIMAN IN LONDON
Mr. Eshkol warned that, as in the past, the Middle East was again “not free from the sense of crisis,” adding that “there is always a danger of aggression in our area, particularly in view of the constant heavy buildup of armaments on the Arab side. While we feel we must maintain an adequate deterrent capacity, as the best means of preventing war, we do not despair of peace. It is our conviction that world statesmanship can play a great role” for ultimate peace, he concluded.
The visiting Premier was scheduled to meet with W. Averell Harriman, President Johnson’s special envoy, today. Mr. Harriman was sent on a special mission to Israel last month after West Germany precipitated a Middle East upheaval by suspending the last part of a multi-million dollar shipment of arms to Israel under Egyptian pressure.
Among those present to greet the Premier and his party at the airport were Herbert Bowden, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House; Neville Bland, Special Representative of the Secretary of State; John Beith, British Ambassador to Israel; Arthur Lourie, Israel Ambassador to Britain; and other members of the Embassy. The British Jewish community was represented by Chief Rabbi Israel Brodie, Sir Barnett Janner and representatives of all major Zionist and Jewish organizations.
The first meeting of the two Prime Ministers will be at a luncheon tomorrow at the Prime Minister’s official residence for Premier and Mrs. Eshkol at which Mrs. Wilson also will be present. The two Prime Ministers will then meet for talks through the afternoon and in the evening Mr. Wilson will attend a dinner given by Ambassador Lourie in honor of Premier Eshkol.
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