Israeli Government Assures U.S. None of Its Troops Now Remain on Egyptian Soil

The Provisional Government of Israel has assured the United States Government that no Israeli troops remain on Egyptian soil, the State Department announced tonight.

In a statement the Department recalled the events leading up to the Israeli Government’s reply, received at the Department today. The British Ambassador, Sir Oliver Franks, informed Acting Secretary of State Robert A. Lovett last Thursday of the British concern lest presence of Israeli forces in Egypt might bring up treaty obligations that they would have to fulfill.

Over the week-end the State Department instructed the American representative in Tel Aviv, James McDonald, to bring the situation to the attention of the Provision-al Government of Israel, the Department said tonight. The Israeli Government replied today that Israeli troops had invaded Egypt “only in the course of military operations” and not with the intention of remaining on Egyptian soil.

Following this, the Department said, the American representative at Cairo was instructed to inform the Egyptian Government that the recent aerial and naval attacks on Tel Aviv “can only result in further extending the hostilities.” The Egyptian Government has net yet replied to this representation, State Department press officer Michael J. McDermott told reporters.

McDermott branded as “completely untrue” the reports that the United States had warned Israel that further incursion into Egyptian territory would cost them full recognition of the chance to get a $100,000,000 loan. He also said, in response to questioning, that it was his understanding that the British treaty with Egypt did, in fact, obligate them to go to the assistance of Egypt should Egypt be attacked.