The French Embassy here today thanked the Israel Government for dispatching a power naval seagoing tug to the assistance of the French liner “Champollion” grounded four miles north of Beirut. The Embassy’s letter stressed that the Israel Government’s attitude was an outstanding example of international cooperation.
Bad weather and poor visibility hampered attempts to rescue the “Champollion’s” passengers, more than score of whom were drowned in attempts to swim through the boiling sea to the Lebanese shore several hundred yards away. But most were rescued late today. The vessel broken in two, with most of passengers concentrated on the larger section.
The Israeli vessel given permission late yesterday to enter Lebanese waters to assist in the attempted rescue operations only after repeated refusals by the Arab state. When the Lebanese themselves failed to effect the rescue and the Israelis continued to insist that it was their humanitarian duty to stand by, the Arabs granted permission for the tug to enter Lebanese waters.
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