The State Department this weekend stressed, both publicly and through diplomatic channels to the Arab states, that the discussions of Myer Feldman, deputy special counsel to President Kennedy, in Israel, did not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Government.
State Department spokesman Joseph Reap announced that Mr. Feldinan’s visit to Israel was private, “unofficial” and that “he was not there as a representative of the United States Government.” The spokesman said Mr. Feldman paid calls on Israeli officials “but we do not know with whom he had appointments” because he was not there as a U.S. official.
The Department’s comments on the trip by a top-ranking White House staff member and close aide to the President were considered unprecedented. It was learned that the Department made the comments on Mr. Feldman after inquiries had been made by Arab diplomats. Mr. Feldman assists President Kennedy on a broad range of legislative and administrate matters.
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