Israel this week got a glimpse of two potential Republican candidates for the United States Presidency in 1968 – Governor George Romney, of Michigan, who arrived at Lydda Airport last night; and Senator Charles Percy, of Illinois, who took off from Lydda this morning after a brief visit.
Gov. Romney arrived here from Moscow, where he talked with Kremlin leaders. He was scheduled to meet in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Eshkol, Foreign Minister Eban and Israel’s Chief of Staff, Gen. Yitzhak Rabin. He was scheduled to go to Amman, Jordan, tomorrow by way of the Allenby Bridge.
Sen. Percy who with Mrs. Percy, is returning home from a visit to Southeast Asia which included a stopover in Vietnam, met with Mr. Eshkol and Gen. Rabin and was supposed to meet with Israel’s Air Force commander but time did not permit it. He promised, nevertheless, that he would raise the question of Phantom jet planes for Israel with Administration leaders when he returns to Washington.
Gov. Romney, on the other hand, rejected all questions on arms supplies for Israel, telling newsmen at the airport that he came only “to listen, look and learn.” The Governor also refused to comment on his talks in Moscow as they concerned the Middle East because “I agreed with my hosts that details of our discussions are to be kept secret,” He did say, however, that there was “nothing encouraging and nothing discouraging concerning the Middle East” in his talks with Soviet leaders.
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