Israel President Zalman Shazar’s party, on an official state visit to Chile, was maintaining constant contact with the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem today over whether to continue with the third leg of the South American tour, scheduled to begin next Monday in Buenos Aires, in spite of the military coup in Argentina. If the Argentine visit is canceled or delayed, it is expected that President Shazar’s party will extend its visit to Chile. President Eduardo Frei, of Chile, extended to President Shazar today an invitation to prolong his visit here.
The visit of President Shazar to Santiago was marked today by the signing of an agreement between Chile and Israel for cooperation in the field of nuclear science and research for peaceful purposes. A similar pact was signed between Israel and Uruguay at Montevideo last week, when President Shazar visited that capital. Today’s agreement went beyond the nuclear field. It embraced Chilean-Israeli aims for the promotion of social and economic development as well as general scientific knowledge “for the peace and progress of mankind.”
President Shazar and President Frei held their second and lengthier conference here last night. They had talked briefly, first, within an hour after Mr. Shazar’s arrival from Montevideo. In their longer conversation, described officially as “very cordial,” President Frei explained to the Israeli chief of state Chile’s policies of social and economic development, especially in the field of agriculture. They discussed also the general, world political situation and various other matters of mutual interest to Chile and Israel.
The conference was held at the President’s official residence, the Moneda. Mr. Shazar was escorted to and from the palace by soldiers in full-dress uniforms, led by the country’s most colorful musical aggregation, the band of the Chilean Naval School. Despite the chilly weather, thousands of persons lined the route of march, and cheered President Shazar.
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