Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s Foreign Minister, arrived here this morning and proceeded immediately by plane to Washington to meet with Secretary of State John Foster Dulles on the new situation which has developed in connection with Egypt’s atten.pt to return to Gaza and the announcements by Egypt and Saudi Arabia that Israel will not be allowed free passage through the Suez and Akaba waterways.
Upon landing here today, Mrs. Meir stated that Israel may be forced to take action against Egypt in self-defense. As she made this statement, the Israel Cabinet was meeting in Jerusalem to consider the grave situation created by the Egyptian moves. She indicated that she expects to discuss the Gaza situation thoroughly with Mr. Dulles in the light of the promises by President Eisenhower to induce Israel to withdraw from the Gaza and Akaba areas.
Is the sources made it clear that? Mrs, Meir will attempt to restate to the United States Israel’s determination to fight against any blockade of Israeli shipping in the Gulf of Akaba and to defend its rights if conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. These sources indicated that Mrs. Meir will put the following questions to Secretary Dulles:
“1. President Eisenhower promised to insure that after (the Israeli) withdrawal (from Gaza and Akaba), there would be greater tranquility than before. The opposite is now the case. How do the President and the Administration propose to redeem their undertaking?
“2. The President has stated that the United States assures that after the Israeli withdrawal, there will be no blockade restrictions against Israel in the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Akaba; and that if these restrictions occur, there will be firm action by the society of nations. What action does the United States contemplate?
“3. The Secretary of State, in persuading Israel to withdraw from Gaza, indorsed the March I assumptions on Gaza outlined by Mrs. Meir and carefully checked their formulation. The chief assumption was U. N. control, both civilian and military. How does the United States propose to promote to is objective?”
The Israeli sources also said: “In the past few days the Israeli Government has received renewed assurances that the United States will not acknowledge any obstacles to free passage by American commercial shipping in the Gulf of Akaba and that the United States, while recognizing Egypt’s juridical status under the armistice agreement, favors the United Nations remaining in Gaza until there is a peace settlement or a settlement of the future of Gaza.”
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