Premier Levi Eshkol called in American Ambassador Walworth Barbour today to convey what was reported to be Israel’s concern and misgivings over the changed stand by the United States in the United Nations on the Arab refugee problem. (See page 2 for UN debate).
Although no details of the content of the meeting were disclosed, it was assumed that the Premier expressed concern about the possibility that the United States was appeasing the Arabs in its revised formulation of its previously submitted draft to the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee. The revised American draft seeks to revive a clause of a 1948 resolution emphasizing repatriation or compensation of the Arab refugees without direct reference to resettlement.
It was understood that the Prime Minister also raised with the American envoy the issue of the United States apparent plan not to support an 18-power draft resolution calling for direct Arab-Israel talks on the refugee problem.
Meanwhile the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Security Committee met with Deputy Premier and Acting Foreign Minister Abba Eban. The committee recommended that the Knesset hold a full debate on the treatment of the refugee issue by the United Nations Assembly immediately upon the return to Israel of Mrs. Golda Meir, Israel’s Foreign Minister, who is at the UN.
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