The international crisis surrounding France’s decision to release Black September leader Abu Daoud rose to new heights today as the French Foreign Ministry lashed out in anger at the United States. The Foreign Ministry called in the American Charge d’Affaires Samuel-Gammon to tell him in no uncertain terms that France rejected U.S. criticism of its legal action as “inadmissible appreciation of the acts of French justice.”
Last night in a radio interview, Minister of Interior, Michel Poniatovsky rapped all those who criticized French policy by saying “France does not preach at others and will not allow others to preach to it.” French authorities were especially irked by the State Department’s statement last Tuesday which expressed “dismay” at France’s decision to disregard West German and Israeli detention for extradition requests. State Department spokesman John Trattnor said, “Through an apparent legal technicality, neither West German nor Israeli courts will be given the opportunity to interrogate this man about the brutal and revolting murder of athletes in Munich.”
(State Department spokesman Robert Funseth said in Washington today that Gammon had “reiterated our feelings of dismay” over the release of Daoud when he was called to the Foreign Ministry in Paris. President-elect Jimmy Carter told newsmen in Washington yesterday that the French action had left him “deeply disturbed and very much surprised.” But he said there was nothing to be done about it except to get a stronger international consensus against terrorism. He said he would not raise the issue when he speaks by telephone today to French President Valery Giscard d’Estaing but that Vice-President Walter Mondale would when he goes to Paris after the inauguration next week.)
The existing situation is now being openly described by diplomatic circles here as one of “grave crisis” which might jeopardize France’s relations with the U.S. a few days before President-elect Carter is sworn in.
FRANCO-ISRAELI TENSION HIGH
The tension between France and Israel is unabated. The departure of Israeli Ambassador Mordechai Gazit yesterday was viewed by French officials with “shock and dismay.” Though both the Quai d’Orsay and the Elysee Palace refrained from any official comment on his departure, French officials privately expressed hope that relations “will soon be normalized.” The Giscard government is facing serious internal difficulties due to the mounting popularity of the Socialist-Communist opposition and the Gaullist split within its own ranks. In preparation for the forthcoming municipal elections, next March, and the legislative ones next year, the government parties have been actively wooing France’s half million Jews.
Three French ministers, Michel d’Ornano, of Industry, Cultural Minister Francoise Giroud and Foreign Affairs Minister Louis de Guiringaud were due to visit Israel in the coming months as part of the French government’s desire to mollify or at least neutralize the country’s Jews.
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