Golda Meir Arrives in Paris for Top-level Talks; Optimistic on Germany

Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s Foreign Minister, arriving here for four days of top-level talks with French Government leaders, including Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville, declared today that the Israel Government expects its Parliament to approve “by a large majority” the move toward establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and West Germany.

Mrs. Meir made that statement in reply to questions from a large corps of French and other newsmen who met her at Orly Airport and asked about the Israel Cabinet’s decision of yesterday, approving by an overwhelming majority acceptance of West German Chancellor Ludwig Erhard’s proposal for full Bonn-Jerusalem diplomatic ties.

“My Government’s political ties with the various political parties,” she answered “enables it to believe that tomorrow following Prime Minister Levi Eshkol’s declaration on this matter before the Knesset (Parliament), the Knesset will by a large majority approve the establishment of diplomatic relations with Bonn.”

(A late Jewish Telegraphic Agency dispatch from Jerusalem reported that the central committee of Achdut Avoda, one of the Israel Government’s coalition partners, voted today to oppose establishment of diplomatic ties between Israel and West Germany, Achdut Avoda’s Ministers were the only members of the Cabinet yesterday to reserve decision on the issue pending an official party stand. Today’s decision means that the party will vote against the diplomatic move in the Knesset tomorrow.)

Asked about reports of a forthcoming meeting between Mr. Eshkol and Dr. Erhard, Mrs. Meir said such a meeting was “not at all impossible,” adding, however: “Nothing definite has been planned as yet–neither a date nor a meeting place. This meeting has been discussed for a long time, and there has been no change in recent weeks or months.”

Nevertheless, it was understood here that the Israeli and West German leaders may meet immediately after Mr. Eshkol concludes his visit to London, where he is to confer with British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Mr. Eshkel is due to arrive in London March 24, and his conference with Dr. Erhard is said to be scheduled for the end of this month, probably in Brussels.

SAYS ISRAEL DOES NOT ASK FOR EXCLUSIVITY IN RELATIONS WITH FRANCE

In regard to the Arab League moves toward the severance of diplomatic relations with Bonn, as proposed by Egypt’s President Nasser, Mrs. Meir said, in answer to further questionings “Nasser has tried to play his usual game of blackmail. This time he has failed.”

Mrs. Meir was a luncheon guest of the French Foreign Minister prior to their first formal conference today. She told newsmen: “Our relations with France are excellent, and have been excellent for a long time, and certainly we, in Israel, hope they are going to stay so.” She reiterated Israel’s stand to the effect that “we do not ask for exclusivity in our relations with a friendly power. We readily understand and accept that such a country should have normal relations with the Arab states at the same time.”

Accompanied here by her Ministry’s director of economic affairs, Moshe Allon, Mrs. Meir stated that the main subject of her talks with M. Couve de Murville will be Israel’s link with the European Common Market. Other points on the agenda for the meetings between the two foreign ministers are the recent developments in the Middle East, including the Arab threats to divert the Jordan River waters.