Thatcher to Visit Egypt, Jordan

British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher plans to visit Egypt and Jordan in September in support of current efforts to promote Arab-Israeli peace talks.

Breaking the news in Parliament yesterday, she indicated she would visit both these countries during the long parliamentary recess in response to numerous invitations.

There was no indication from Thatcher as to whether or not her trip would also take in Israel.

ISRAEL’S VISIT DISCUSSED

However, diplomatic sources here suggest that discussion is taking place about an exchange of visits between Thatcher and Israeli Premier Shimon Peres. In that case, Peres would first have to take up the invitation to London extended to him last autumn when Sir Geoffrey Howe, the British Foreign Secretary, was in Israel. Only then would an Israeli trip by Thatcher be in prospect.

In the Commons, Thatcher tried to discourage the impression that she planned to intervene actively in the Middle East conflict or that her trip might lead to a British initiative.

Britain did not intervene directly but kept closely in touch with matters, with the parties concerned and also with the United States, she told a pro-Arab Conservative MP who expressed his wholehearted support if she intervened in the search for a solution.

Nevertheless, she is clearly interested to see how she can follow up the discussions she has had recently with Israel, Jordan, Egypt and the United States, and thereby play a supporting role to the U.S.