Jerusalem Sees Eban-gromyko Talk Aiding Israeli-ussr Relations

Political circles here said that Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban’s meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, at the United Nations, has served to clarify relations between the two countries. The two reportedly found certain points of agreement when discussing Middle Eastern affairs.

It was said here that the meeting was far more cordial than had been expected, especially since Mr. Gromyko, in reply to an Eban comment, disclaimed any knowledge of Moscow’s decision to cancel the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s scheduled tour of the USSR. Moreover, Mr. Gromyko explained that such a step, about which he personally knew nothing, should not be interpreted as anti-Israeli, and further expressed Russia’s intention to support peace and relaxation of tensions in the Middle East.

In a related development, it was revealed here today that a five-man Histadrut delegation secretly left for the USSR to tour Russian trade union institutions at the invitation of Soviet labor leaders. The visit started several days ago and had been a well-guarded secret until now, in order not to endanger the mission, which is considered here as having great potential political significance.

Only four members of a scheduled 13-member Soviet delegation have to take part in an international electronics convention opening at Tel Aviv tomorrow, convention sponsors reported today. Representatives of the organizing committee waited vainly for several hours at Lydda Airport for the Soviet delegation. Only later were airport officials able to tell the committee representatives that four members of the Soviet delegation arrived earlier in the day and were driven away in three automobiles belonging to the Soviet Embassy.