A review of Israel’s relations with the British Commonwealth was today presented here by Michael Comay, Israel Foreign Ministry official, who also reported that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Jewish state and Eire is now under consideration.
Mr. Comay, who is in charge of the Commonwealth Division of the Ministry, revealed that there is an agreement in principle between Israel and South Africa for the establishment of a legation at Praetoria, in addition to the consulate which now exists at Johannesburg. Reporting that Harry Linton, new Israel Minister to Australia, is flying to Canberra Thursday to take up his post, Mr. Comay expressed the opinion that Australia will abandon its previous position in support of the internationalization of Jerusalem.
Turning to the Asiatic Dominions, the Foreign Ministry official pointed out that India’s delay in granting Israel formal recognition is due to internal considerations–relations with its own Moslem minority–and its position vis-a-vis Moslem Pakistan. He reported a measure of “informal recognition” from Ceylon, and added that there has been a lessening of open hostility on the part of Pakistan. “Certainly Pakistan will not agree to the formation of an anti-Israel Moslem bloc,” he said.
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