The Israel Government today sent its formal reply to Argentina’s note of June 8, in which the Buenos Aires Government had asked for the return of Adolf Eichmann and the punishment of those who had captured the Nazi specialist in the mass murder of Jews.
While the contents of the long-delayed note were not disclosed, the letter is understood to make it clear that Israel has no intention of returning Eichmann to Argentina.
At the same time, however, the note reaffirms Israel’s full respect for Argentine sovereignty. The letter declares that one of Israel’s most important foreign policy goals is the preservation of friendly relations with Argentina.
The Israel reply was sent today after the Foreign Minister at Buenos Aires had reminded Israel’s Ambassador there. Arych Levavi, that it had not as yet received a reply to its June 8 letter to Israel. Mr. Levavi was expected to present his new note to the Buenos Aires Foreign Ministry today.
Strenuous efforts are being continued here to attempt a rapprochement with Argentina and the re-establishment of the friendly relations that have existed with Argentina for 12 years. Israeli circles here are considering a special gesture of amity toward Argentina, possibly the sending of a high-ranking personality whose task would be to soothe Argentinian sensibilities that have been hurt by the admitted violation of Argentine sovereignty.
Eichmann is officially still under detention for interrogation, and no date has yet been fixed for his formal arraignment on the charges of “crimes against the Jewish people” and “crimes against humanity.” Both those charges carry the death penalty under Israeli law. Yesterday, a magistrate went to his secret place of custody and extended the detention order against the Nazi for the fourth time. The new warrant prolongs the detention, pending a hearing, for another 15 days.
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