The British Government, now currently subjecting its Middle East policies to exhaustive review, summoned its envoys to Israel and Jordan home today for consultations. They will engage in discussions with Foreign Secretary George Brown and top Foreign Ministry officials on a number of pending issues including the question of provision of arms to the two countries, the future of the West Bank area, now held by Israel and the plight of Jordan.
There had been no official acknowledgement that either Jordan or Israel has approached Britain directly for arms. Most of the Jordan Air Force equipment came from Britain — although Jordan was to have received the American-built F-104 Star fighter jets and its armor was partly British and partly American. King Hussein and Jordanian officials have warned that if they do not receive arms from the Western countries they will have to accept Soviet weapons.
Mr. Brown told the House of Commons today that there had been “no change” with regard to the Suez Canal blockade and was critical of the fact that Egypt, either alone or with others willing to help, had not taken steps to begin clearing obstructions out of the waterway.
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