United States Reported Pressing Israel for New Concessions on Territory and Refugees

Reports that the United States Government is preparing to pressure Israel into yielding territory to the Arabs as part of this country’s proposed new Middle East settlement circulated here today.

According to well informed quarters, the State Department will probably try to have Israel accept a somewhat revised version of the original Bernadotte Plan, which was soundly defeated at the last session of the U.N. General Assembly. As in the case of earlier attempts, the present plan is being pushed in the utmost secrecy.

Paul A. Porter, American member of the U.N. Conciliation Commission who is on route to Lausanne following consultations on the Israeli-Arab peace talks there with officials of the State Department, will be permitted to go ahead with his plans for a fact-finding commission to determine the actual number of Arab refugees, the reports add. However, once agreement by the Jews and Arabs can be assured on resolving the refugee issue, the U.S. can be expected to launch its new drive on the question of Israel’s territory.

It is expected that Israel will be asked to accept 250,000 displaced Arabs, rather than the 100,000 she has offered to admit. The Jewish state will also be asked to adhere to the principle laid down last year by Dr. Philip Jessup which asked Israel to yield territory to compensate for any gains outside the original partition decision of Nov. 29, 19.47.

Meanwhile, James G. McDonald, American Ambassador to Israel, arrived in this country today on his vacation. A State Department spokesman announced that Ambassador McDonald will visit Washington Monday for consultations with the Department on the Near Eastern situation.

The Government of Israel is contributing 160 large tents to help house the victims of the earthquake in Ecuador, it was learned today from Israeli sources here. The tents are being shipped from the United States. They will provide shelter for about 1,500 persons.