France Prepares for Ben-gurion’s Arrival on Five – Day State Visit

Preparations were completed here today for the arrival here of Israel Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion as the guest of the French Government. Mr. Ben-Gurion will arrive by plane on Monday for a five-day state visit. He will be tendered a formal luncheon by President Charles de Gaulle and a dinner by Premier Michel Debre.

Three other important luncheons will be given. One will be by the Israel Embassy here for a score of French officials and other leaders. Another will be provided by the Association France-Israel which is expected to bring together 150 leaders of every political group in France and from all walks of life. The third will be a luncheon of the Diplomatic Press Association at which Mr. Ben-Gurion will answer questions of the French press about Israel’s policies, attitudes and objectives on the international scene.

There will be a visit to UNESCO headquarters where Mr. Ben-Gurion will be greeted by acting director general Rene Mahu and a visit to the tomb of the unknown Jewish martyr just off the Paris Jewish quarter which commemorates the 6, 000, 000 Jewish victims of Nazism. Some 1, 000 persons have been invited to a reception to be given by the Israel Embassy in the form of a garden party at a leading establishment.

Various ceremonies also are being arranged including a visit to the Arc de Triomphe where the Prime Minister will place a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Mr. Ben-Gurion was certain to meet privately during his Paris visit with a number of French personalities whom he knows personally and who have visited Israel in recent years. These would presumably include Pierre Gilbert, former Ambassador to Israel, Socialist leader Guy Mollet. former Premier Pierre Mendes- France and others.