Eshkol Leaves Tomorrow for England; Will Confer with British Premier

Israel’s Prime Minister Levi Eshkol will fly Wednesday to London, where he will meet with Prime Minister Harold Wilson, Foreign Secretary Michael Stewart, and other leaders of the British Government, to discuss a number of vital issues concerning Arab-Israeli affairs. Mr. Eshkol will be accompanied by Mrs. Eshkol. After their visit here, they are expected to take a few days’ rest in France. Today, it was not ruled out here that, while visiting Europe, the Premier may also meet with West Germany’s Chancellor Ludwig Erhard.

Mr. Eshkol’s trip to Britain has been labeled here and in Israel as a “private” visit, in consequence of which no set agenda had been fixed for his meetings with the British Government leaders. However, the Israeli chief of Government will have at least two formal talks with the topmost members of the British Government. He will be Mr. Wilson’s guest at a dinner Thursday at 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister’s official residence, and will be honored at another dinner, Friday, at the Foreign Office.

Among the matters expected by the British press to be discussed are the Arab plans for diversion of the headwaters of the Jordan River, which Mr. Eshkol has called “Israel’s lifeline,” and possibly an Israeli request for an Anglo-Israeli arms deal. The very absence of a set agenda for the formal talks will make it possible for both sides to bring up whatever subjects interest them most urgently.

Press speculations here in advance of the Eshkol visit express the opinion that a possible Israeli request for British arms may cause a quandary for Britain because any increase in Britain’s present “modest” scale of arms aid to Israel would elicit immediate, strong reactions from Egypt. Britain’s Minster of Defense, Denis Healey, has reportedly been ordered to stand by to Join the talks with Mr. Eshkol, especially after the latter’s talk with Foreign Secretary Stewart.