French Troops Might Assist in Palestinian Evacuation of Beirut

French troops might take an active part in assisting the Palestinian evacuation of Beirut, French sources said here today. A French task force might join American marines who will supervise the Palestinian withdrawal from west Beirut and ensure their safe departure from Lebanon.

Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson said this evening that no agreement has been reached yet and termed these reports “premature.” Other officials, who did not want to be named, said, however, that the talks on French participation in the Palestinian evacuation are “advanced” and that an agreement might be signed at any moment.

Cheysson himself broadly hinted, when he addressed the French National Assembly this afternoon, that the Palestinians have agreed to evacuate the city. He said, “I can confirm that the Palestine Liberation Organization has accepted to switch its activities from an armed struggle to a political campaign.” He gave no additional details but observers recalling the close ties developed in recent days between Paris and the PLO said his words clearly indicate that agreement has been reached or is about to be reached.

Cheysson also said that President Francois Mitterrand’s envoy to the Middle East, Foreign Ministry Secretary General Francis Gutmann, returned to Paris today after talks with PLO Chief Yasir Arafat in Beirut and meetings with Israeli, Syrian, Jordanian and Saudi Arabian leaders.

A Palestinian spokesman in Beirut denied this evening that the PLO has agreed to the evacuation and to the stationing of American troops in Beirut. Egyptian Foreign Minister Komal Hassan Ali said in Cairo, however, that the Palestinians have agreed to the stationing of American troops. Ali did not mention the possibility of French participation.