Eshkol Honored at U.n.; Soviet Representative Fails to Attend Function

Israel’s Prime Minister Levi Eshkol said at a luncheon tendered in his honor here today by United Nations Secretary General U Thant that while Israel appreciates many UN achievements, it has to be “realistic” about what the United Nations can do and cannot do, at this stage of its development. He pointed out that disarmament remained a hope and not a fact.

The luncheon was a most intimate affair to which only 15 persons had been invited. It was attended by U. S. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson; Ambassador Sir Patrick Dean, British representative at the United Nations; Ambassador Roger Seydoux, French representative, and other leading UN members, including Ambassador Michael Comay, Israel’s representative at the United Nations, Soviet representative N. T. Fedorenko, who was invited to the luncheon, sent notice at the last minute that he regretted he could not attend.

Mr. Eshkol arrived at the UN building accompanied by a large motorcycle police escort with sirens blaring, drawing large crowds as the entourage passed by. He was met at the entrance by high officials of the UN Secretariat and was taken on a private elevator to the 38th floor where he was met by Secretary General U Thant with whom he spent some time in private talk in Mr. Thant’s office. He was then escorted by the Secretary General to the private dining room on the same floor. Following the luncheon, he was taken around the UN building and shown the various conference rooms.

ESHKOL ANALYZES U.N. LIMITATIONS; PLEDGES ISRAELS COOPERATION

In his address at the luncheon, Mr. Eshkol panted out that the United Nations “can and does limit and localize conflict–but the umbrella of the Charter is not yet a substitute for national defense. ” He noted that political disputes remain unresolved despite UN efforts unless the contending parties were willing to enter a settlement.

These limitations, however, arose from policies of governments and not from any inherent weakness in the concept of international organization, he declared. He stressed in this connection that the UN can influence events by asserting its moral authority behind principles of the Charter in demanding respect for every member state, however small, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means.

He pledged Israeli cooperation toward these ends in the Near East and elsewhere. He said that, directly or through UN agencies, Israel was able to repay a moral debt by helping new nations in their development. He emphasized that it gave Israel satisfaction to share with others her own experiences in nation-building. He commended U Thant personally for his achievements and contributions to world peace. He recalled U Thant’s visit to Israel and said that he hoped Israel would soon again have the pleasure of welcoming the Secretary General.

Israel is actually an “old-timer” in the UN–of the present 112 UN members, Israel is number 59–Mr. Eshkol noted. He observed that although Israel has been a member for over 15 years, “the conflict which attended our birth has not yet been resolved, and continues to be a constant UN concern–whether in the debating chambers of this building or on our borders. ” He recalled that the UN played a dramatic role in Israel’s birth in the period from 1947 to 1949. The UN, he said, endorsed the Jewish claim to statehood, brought the war under control through armistice agreements, and admitted the new state to the world body.