A spokesman for the Lebanese Government today denied in Beirut that Lebanon has started work on one of the Arab projects for the diversion of the Jordan River headwaters from Israel.
A report here stated that the Lebanese spokesman said his Government is awaiting instructions from the Unified Arab command before it starts work on the project. The Cairo press reported yesterday that bids for contracts for the work in Lebanon will be sought in the next week, but other reports held that Lebanon is holding back on implementing the water diversion project, ifearing that Lebanon would be open to attacks by the Israelis.
Meanwhile, it was stated here today that Phillips Talbot, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, may visit Israel soon. Mr. Talbot recently visited Lebanon and Jordan. It was assumed here that, if Mr. Talbot comes to Jerusalem, he would deal with the problem of Jordan River waters diversion plans and Israel’s reaction to those projects in the wake of the recent visit here of W. Averell Harriman, President’s Johnson’s special emissary.
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