U.s., Britain Agree U. N. Troops Must Stay in Gaza, Macmillan Says

The British and American Governments are in agreement that the continued presence of United Nations troops in the Gaza Strip is necessary, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan told a cheering House of Commons today as he reported on the results of his recent Bermuda conference with President Eisenhower.

“The United States Government agreed with us that the continued presence of UNEF in the Gaza Strip is essential if any solution of permanence is to be achieved. We both consider the UN force should not leave until its mission has been completely fulfilled,” the Prime Minister said.

“Both our governments, “he went on, believe that there exists the right of innocent passage for all shipping through the entrance to the Gulf of Akaba. “This does not in any way run counter to Egypt’s legal rights. On the contrary, our two governments considered that under the armistice this applies equally to Israeli ships and vessels of other nations plying to Israel.” He noted that the presence of UNEF on the Akaba coast of the Sinai Peninsula is an added guarantee that these rights will be respected.

Mr. Macmillan said that he and the President had considered longer term problems involved in a Palestine settlement. “Here,” he said, “we both had regretfully to conclude that while our common interest continued to lie in bringing about a permanent peace, the chances of achieving this are not presently too hopeful.”

“It will therefore be necessary,” the Prime Minister continued, “to concentrate on the solution of individual problems as they arise and in trying to keep the atmosphere calm, with the hope that in the passage of time a more general settlement can be achieved. And here again the continued presence of the UN force can play an important role.”

Israel Ambassador Eliahu Elath was in the gallery while the Prime Minister spoke.