The text of the U.S.-Israeli memorandum setting forth U.S. assurances to Israel in the event its treaty with Egypt founders or is violated will be made public tomorrow, the State Department said today, An as yet unidentified “major State Department official” will discuss “various interpretations and legal aspects” of the memorandum, spokesman Hodding Carter said.
Carter repeated with emphasis that the memo would not require Senate ratification. Contrary to a televised commentary last night, Egypt has been offered a similar agreement but has decided not to accept it. Carter volunteered this information yesterday.
In the meanwhile, Carter refused to comment on Israeli Premier Menachem Begin’s statement in an interview, that the U.S. would “take action” in the event of treaty violations by Egypt. The memo was signed Monday by Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan.
According to sources close to the Middle East negotiations, the U.S. has pledged economic, military and diplomatic support to Israel. This would include establishment of a U.S. military presence, remove any naval blockade, provide emergency resupply of weapons to Israel in the event of war, and veto United Nations Security Council resolutions inimical to Israel’s security.
Other Administration sources said that the determination of a treaty violation rests solely with the U.S. and that the U.S. would have to consult bath Egypt and Israel before a U.S. review of possible action is begun.
Asked whether the Egyptian Israeli treaty is a “separate peace” agreement, Carter emphasized that “the parties are committed” and “have agreed” to “a continuing process” for a comprehensive, treaty as they had “established” in the Camp David frameworks. Regarding the United Nations force to be in the Sinai under the arrangement for Israel’s withdrawal, Carter said “the continued UN supervision” is “to inspire confidence for both sides.”
Meanwhile, the White House had no immediate comment on a letter from President Carter to Egyptian Prime Minister Mustapha Khalil to the reported effect that Israel has agreed to improve political conditions for Arabs on the West Bank and Gaza to help induce them to join the peace process. (See story P. I.)
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