Growing dissent over French policies in the Middle East was voiced here today. The Committee of Intellectuals for a Negotiated Solution to the Middle East Problem, issued a statement accusing France of trying to re-establish its imperialistic role in that area, The International League Against Racism protested against “the likelihood of French arms deliveries to Iraq.”
Andre Francois-Poncel, former French Ambassador and High Commissioner to Germany, wrote in Figaro today that “Gen. de Gaulle’s peace plans for the Middle East are not satisfactory. We cannot today, anymore than yesterday, convince ourselves that Israel is guilty of barbarous aggression.”
(President Aref of Iraq may have left France without a commitment for the Mirage jet planes and other armaments he so ardently sought in his talks with Gen. de Gaulle, but he did get French verbal support of the Arab demand for unconditional Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories. The Times of London reported.” In the French view,” the paper said, “the important thing is that the visit has served to strengthen the hands of France in the Arab countries.”
(The Times referred to the joint communique issued by de Gaulle and Aref on the latter’s departure Saturday which stressed that there can be no settlement of the Middle East dispute without prior evacuation of Israel forces to the pre-June 5, 1967 boundaries. “Talks on the exploitation of the Roumelia oil fields (in Iraq) by a French company and on the purchase of Mirage planes by Iraq will go on between the two countries,” The Times said. “Some commentators feel that these two issues are linked.”)
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