The request for recognition addressed by Israel’s foreign Minister Moshe Shertok to the British Government will not be answered unless and until Britain recognizes Israel, a Foreign Office spokesman said today.
This, he explained, is the normal procedure since any reply to Sheraton’s communication signed by the British Foreign Minister would imply recognition of Israel. This does not exclude communication with Shertok on other matters, the Foreign Office official declared.
At the same time, he indicated that Britain is ready to support the nomination of Paul Van Zealand of Belgium for the post of U.N. mediator for Palestine if the Jews and the Arabs are prepared to accept him. He revealed that Britain does not intend, for the time being to send Sir Hugh Dow to Palestine to act as diplomatic representative there, but that the British consuls in Jerusalem and Haifa will look after British interests in the Jewish and Arab areas.
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