Conservative Party leader Edward Heath has reportedly suggested in a letter to Foreign Secretary Michael Stewart that the United Nations map out a timetable for a survey of the southern end of the Suez Canal preliminary to clearing operations that would free 15 merchant ships stranded in the waterway since the June, 1967 war. Mr. Heath claimed on his return from visits to Israel and Egypt last week that leaders of both countries had agreed in principle to such an operation provided that it was carried out entirely under UN auspices. Mr. Heath was said to have informed Mr. Stewart that the Israelis were anxious for their commanders in the canal zone to have ample advance notice of any survey which might be undertaken in order to avoid the risk of incidents. He said, however that the actual start of a survey would have to await an easing of the present fighting across the Suez Canal.
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