Top officials of the Syrian and Lebanese Governments are scheduled to visit France for talks which reportedly will touch on Arab plans to bar Jordan River waters to Israel, informed sources said here today.
Dr. Hassan Mrewed, Syrian Foreign Minister, who has just completed a visit to Communist China, will arrive in Paris next week. Lebanese President Charles Helou will come on May 5 for an eight-day official state visit. The Syrian official was expected to argue the Arab “right” to use the sources of the Jordan River “as they see fit.”
France was expected to raise with President Helou the Arab plan to divert the waters of the Hasbani tributary as a “spite” measure against Israeli plans to implement the Eric Johnston Jordan River water resources plan. It was reported that both President de Gaulle and Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville will warn Lebanon against changing the water status quo.
Prior to his Paris visit, President Helou will visit President Nasser of Egypt in Cairo. Nasser is expected to press the Lebanese President to remain firm under the expected French pressure on the water issue.
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