The United Arab Republic’s blockade of the Suez Canal against Israeli ships and goods will be lifted only when the entire “Palestine Question” is solved, and not a moment sooner, Dr. Mahmoud Fawzi, Foreign Minister of the UAR declared today.
He made that statement in answer to a question at a luncheon tendered to him by the United Nations Correspondents Association, during which he was queried on a number of issues concerning the Arab states and Israel. A number of Israeli and other Jewish correspondents attended the luncheon.
In regard to the Danish freighter, the Inge Toft, which has been tied to a dock at Port Said since last May because the captain of this ship refuses to unload an Israeli cargo, which Egypt would confiscate, Dr. Fawzi said; “We are considering this matter with the competent government, namely Denmark.”
The UAR representative said his government has no comment at present regarding press reports that Saudi Arabia is requesting withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force from Sharm el Sheikh. But, said Dr. Fawzi, “we will be discussing all this in a few days at the United Nations.”
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