President Georges Pompidou said last night that France is not going to change its policies toward the Middle East, but that his government would continue its efforts to bring about a permanent peace settlement in the region and would “remain faithful to the attitude defined by Gen. de Gaulle.”
Pompidou made his remarks in an exchange of toasts with King Faisal of Saudi Arabia at a state banquet held for the visiting monarch at the Trianon Palace in Versailles. He said that a permanent peace in the Middle East will “have to be based upon respect for the territorial integrity of the different states involved and upon resolutions adopted by the community of nations.”
He told the guests at the banquet that France had done everything possible to avert the Six-Day War, in 1967 and since then “has tried unceasingly and on every level” to find a formula for peace. The French President paid warm tribute to King Faisal and said Saudi Arabia was recognized throughout the Arab world as a moderator.
Faisal and Pompidou held their second round of talks today. Their subjects reportedly included the Middle East and relations between their countries. Faisal arrived here yesterday. He is due to remain-in Paris for five days to discuss Saudian oil supplies to France and other Western European countries, and the possible purchase of arms from France.
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