Full agreement has been reached in talks between West Germany’s special emissary and Israeli Government leaders on conditions for establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, it was announced today as the Bonn envoy, Dr. Kurt Birrenbach, left for Germany. Under the agreement, West Germany has agreed to complete the final part of a shipment of several million dollars worth of weapons to Israel, but through a third party. The agreement also provides for $40,000,000 in West German economic aid to Israel annually. It was also reported that the agreement incorporates a solution for the problem of West German scientists and technicians working on advanced weapons systems for President Nasser in Egypt. The West German Embassy will be located in Tel Aviv. Names of ambassadors have not yet been submitted.
The agreement will be presented for ratification to the next session of the West German Cabinet and to Israel, with a joint communique expected within two weeks. The communique, it was understood, will avoid any declaration that West Germany will not send any more arms to Israel, as West Germany had proposed before the talks began. The “third party” formula will enable West Germany to complete shipment of the arms to Israel while still adhering to its stand of not sending arms to “areas of tension.”
The agreement on the issue of West German scientists in Egypt provides that, while West Germany will not adopt legislation against the scientists, it will take steps to ensure their return and to keep additional scientists from accepting contracts for such work in Egypt.
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