Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev has offered to President Nasser a plan for replacing the West German scientists now at work in Egypt on mass destruction weapons and rockets aimed at Israel with Russian experts, and the offer has been turned down, according to reports reaching Washington today from both Cairo and Bonn.
This was learned from official sources which revealed also that Nasser is now seeking official state invitations to Bonn and Paris to offset the successful visits of Israel Prime Minister Levi Eshkol to Washington and Paris.
It was reported that Nasser expressed preference for retaining German technicians and purchasing components for his weapons development projects from West Germany — although this costs him hard currency. Russian technicians would have been available on long range, easy terms, payable in Egyptian currency, according to reports on hand here.
These facts began emerging here and in Bonn after Egyptian officials commented with great approval on the rejection by the Republican National Convention of a platform provision offered by Sen. Kenneth B. Keating, of New York. Sen. Keating wanted the Republican Party to voice concern over “the activities of former Nazi scientists in developing new horror weapons for President Nasser.” This was not in the formal wording of the draft plank on this issue submitted at San Francisco by the Senator, but was contained in his testimony before the Platform Committee.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
