U.S. WATCHING DEVELOPMENTS; EBAN CONFERS WITH STATE DEPARTMENT
The United States Government is watching closely the developments that took place overnight in Egypt and Syria, but will not make any official comment until full reports have been received, it was indicated here today at the State Department. It was also stated that the State Department sees no significance in the change of government of F{SPAN}###{/SPAN} insofar as the Israel-Egyptian dispute over the anti-Israel blockade of the Suez Canal by Egypt is concerned.
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban bad a long conference yesterday with Undersecretary of State Walter Bedell-Smith at which it became clear that the U.S. Government agrees in principle with the views advanced by Israel on the illegality of Egypt’s blockade denying Israel-bound ships passage through the Suez Canal and access to the port of Eilat.
Other matters concerning Israel-Arab relations were also discussed at the conference, in which Israel Minister Reuven Shiloah also participated. Ambassador Eban stressed Israel’s apprehension over proposals for American military aid to any power belonging to the Arab League, as long as such nations continue their hostile policies toward Israel and are likely to use such armaments for attacks on Israel.
Mr. Eban reiterated the concern felt by the Israel Government over the continued detention of three Israeli citizens in a Baghdad jail as “enemy aliens” after a British civil plane in which they were flying from Cyprus to Iran was forced down early last month. The United States is using its good offices to persuade the Iraqis to free these people.
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