RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26353, 22 February 1951, Page 7

RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL

Visit By British General

(Special Correspondent N.Z.F.A.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. JJ. General Sir Brian Robertson. Commander-In-Chief of the British Forces in the Middle East, has arrived at Tel Aviv on what has been officially described as a courtesy visit to the State of Israel.

He told a big gathering of local ana foreign journalists at Lydda airport that there was no reason to imagine mysterious reasons for his visit. He had already been to a number of Middle East countries and intended in due course to visit all of them.

Listing Israel among the countries “who are concerned, like ourselves, ’n the peace and security of the Middle East,” General Robertson added: "One

has certainly not come here to suggest that Israel should do anything whicn she does not regard to be in her own oest interests. The relations between thy Government and the Government of Israel are friendly. We can both take pleasure in the fact.” Impressive security precautions had been taken bv the Israel authorities to see that General Robertson’s arrival—the date and timing of which were kept a close secret—should be without incident. Immediately after leaving the airport General Robertson called on the Foreign Minister (Mr Moshe Sharett) and the Israel Army Chief of Staff (Brigadier Yigael Yadln).

Later he began discussions with the Prime Minister (Mr Ben Gurion). “Feeling of Goodwill”

The correspondent of “The Times” in Tel Aviv says: “It is a fair guess that onlv a very small part of the Israel oublic is resentful of General Robertson's visit. On the whole there is at present a widespread feeling of goodwill towards Britain and a tendency to believe that there should be at least informal understanding on matters affecting regional security This atmosphere of friendliness represents an extraordinary reversal of sentiment which has come about gradually over the last two and a half years. ‘Tt is expected.” says the correspondent. “that General Robertson's talks will deal technically with th? problem of Israel’s defensive potential, and its place in any system of regional Middle East security.

“It can oe gathered that Israel’s leaders are very willing to talk these matters over and to weigh their implications. but they will emphasise that regional security planning cannot be relied upon so long as the Arab States refuse to co-operate towards the settlement of the issues outstanding between them and Israel.”

The newspaper “Jerusalem Post” says that foreign diplomatic source,? believe that General Robertson will probably exchange views on general security conditions of the region and assess the military potentialities of Israel in relation to the Middle East defence svstem as a whole. ‘"Hie talks will be technical and exploratory only. There is no tendency in diplomatic circles here to assume that anything in the nature of a pact, or other formal commitment, is even contemplated bv General Robertson, much less by the Government of Israel. At the same time interest in the visit is extremely keen.”