French Government Official Says Libya Arms Sale Policy Painful and Unpleasant

The French Government’s official spokesman described his country’s impending sale of Mirage Jets to Libya yesterday as “a painful and unpleasant business for all concerned.” Leo Hamon spoke at a question- and-answer session with foreign radio correspondents. He said that despite criticism of the arms deal in the United States, he hoped that Americans would extend every courtesy to President Georges Pompidou when he visits the U.S. later this month. M. Hamon said the visit would re-enforce Franco-American relations. In reply to a question he said that recent public opinion polis have shown that a majority of Frenchmen sympathize with Israel. He said that anti-Semitism has “practically disappeared in France.” The French Communist Party opened a five day convention here yesterday with a blistering attack on Israel. Nevertheless, Party leader Georges Marchais said that Communists supported Israel’s right to exist though they stand firmly behind the. Arab cause. M. Marchais denounced the “expansionist and provocative policy of the reactionary leaders of Israel,”