Pompidou’s Visit Leaves Bitter Aftertaste; Aj Congress Assails Pompidou’s Chicago Remarks

The American visit of French President Georges Pompidou has left a bitter aftermath. The consensus is that the massive demonstrations against France’s Mideast policies that confronted him in Chicago. New York and other cities may have been justified and within America’s democratic tradition. But few neutral observers believed that they achieved anything beyond marring the atmosphere of his trip. France’s attitude on the controversial sale of 110 Mirage jets to Libya and its embargo which withholds 50 Mirages bought and paid for by Israel, is unchanged. Told by reporters of complaints by Jewish leaders that France reneged on its Mirage deal with Israel, M. Pompidou replied. “If you meet them, you can tell them I am ready to pay them back tomorrow.” He referred to the $56 million Israel paid to the Dassault aircraft manufacturers. The Israelis have not asked for a refund and apparently hope that the planes eventually will be delivered.

Pres. Pompidou was criticized today by the president of the American Jewish Congress for telling Jewish groups during his visit to the United States that Israel must cease being “a racial and religious state” and become “a state in the geographical sense like all other states.” Rabbi Arthur J. Lelyveld charged that President Pompidou’s statement “betrays a dangerous misunderstanding of the role of Israel in Jewish history and in the minds and hearts of the Jewish people.”

M. Pompidou was also quoted by Jean Belaird, his spokesman, as having cautioned Israel to stop using its racial and religious ties abroad to further its policies. Rabbi Lelyveld said that “in expressing this view. President Pompidou has challenged the very basis of the Jewish State. Israel was created not merely as a state like any other but rather as the modern expression of the Promised Land-a state in which people of all races and religions may live in peace and dignity.”

At a press conference yesterday before returning to Paris, President Pompidou defended his government’s sale of Jets to Libya and also explained why he abruptly cancelled an appointment he had with a delegation of American Jewish leaders in New York Monday. He noted that he had already met with Jewish leaders in San Francisco and Chicago and “there comes a time when such meetings are unnecessary and even detrimental.” He said that the Jewish leaders were “moderates” but some of their following seemed “differently inclined.” He said he meant no “Insult” when he cancelled his meeting. Asked about the attitude of French Jews toward his government’s Mideast policy, the President said. “Their hearts beat for Israel but their hearts are French.” He added, “People can say what they like and do what they like, but I am not an anti-Semite.” “Do you believe Israel has a right to exist?” he was asked. He replied, “That state has a right to exist absolutely and that right must be recognized Just as that state must recognize the rights of others.”