Israel Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett, accompanied by Ambassador Eliahu Elath, today called on Secretary of State Dean Acheson and conferred with him for about an hour.
After the parley, the Israel Foreign Minister said that “a number of current topics of mutual interest” were discussed and that his visit was not in direct connection with the current United Nations discussion and voting on the Jerusalem issue. He added, however, that he had touched on the question of internationalizing the city and had explained Israel’s attitude.
Mr. Sharett also revealed that he and Secretary Acheson had talked of peace, and of construction and development problems in relation to the Middle East. In addition Mr. Sharett told the Secretary that he was much impressed with Gordon R. Clapp, American head of the United Nations Middle East Economic Survey Mission, and the mission’s plans for immediate employment of Arab refugees.
In reference to the possibility of further U.N. conciliation between Israel and the Arab states, the Minister said he did not think that it would bring results, but that direct negotiations between the parties might prove more effective. Asked if he agreed with a recent Arab League statement that prospects for peace in Palestine are “dim,” Mr. Sharett replied: “If the Arabs say prospects are dim, then they are dim.”
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