EGYPT REJECTS PEACE PLANS

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31380, 27 May 1967, Page 13

EGYPT REJECTS PEACE PLANS

(N. Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) CAIRO, May 26. Egypt has rejected American proposals for settlement of the Middle East crisis, including President Johnson’s statement that any restrictions on shipping through the Gulf of Aqaba would be an act of aggression, the authoritative newspaper, “Al Ahram,” reported today.

The newspaper also said the United Arab Republic rejected a suggestion that the country should not send any armed forces to the fortress of Sharm-el-Sheikh —which dominates the entrance to the gulf—before giving an official guarantee of freedom of shipping through the Strait of Tiran.

The Foreign Minister of Egypt, Mr Mahmoud Riad, had told the United States Am-bassador-Designate to Cairo, Mr Richard Nolte, with whom he has had crisis talks this week, that Egypt has the right to block Israeli shipping in the Gulf of Aqaba and to prevent strategic materials from reaching Israel. The Foreign Minister also told Mr Nolte that America had created Israel and the present events in the region were the result of America’s back-

ing. “If Israel carries out any aggression on any Arab country, we shall consider you as partners,” Mr Riad was quoted as saying. U.S. Move

In Washington today President Johnson concentrated his bid for peace on getting a promise of continued Israeli restraint from the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr Abba Eban. Mr Eban flew to Washington yesterday after talks in Paris and London aimed at finding out what the major powers were prepared to do to keep the Strait of Tiran and hte Gulf of Aqaba open to Israeli shipping. But Mr Eban is not likely to obtain any public commitment from the United States beyond the President’s announcement that the straits are international waters.

Action Through U.N.

The United States and Britain agreed yesterday to press in the United Nations for settlement of the Middle East crisis, especially the question of access to the Gulf of Aqaba, United Press International reported. The announcement, was made by the British Minister of State, Mr George Thomson after two days of talks in Washington.

Mr Thomson said his talks with Mr Rusk and other high United States officials had centred on “the practical steps that need to be taken by maritime nations generally to up-

■ hold the right of free passage I through the Strait of Tiran.” London newspapers report- ’ ed that Britain is assembling . a naval task force off Aden i with orders to stand by for a , possible operation to keep ' open the Gulf of Aqaba, the - Associated Press reported. i The Ministry of Defence de- ■ dined comment on the re- , ports, but a spokesman referred inquiries to Wednesday's announcement that British warships in the Mediterranean were on standby alert. The newspaper said that two aircraft carriers plus minesweepers, frigates and reconnaissance planes were involved in the buildup. It is believed that the two aircraft carriers were to be kept at each end of the Suez Canal in a pincer move aimed at forestalling any Egyptian move to shut off the waterway.

Foreign ships are still arriving on schedule at Aqaba, Jordan’s only outlet to the sea just across from Israel’s gulf port of Eilat, in spite of the crisis in the area. The port director of Aqaba, Mr Fahd Al-Awamla, said there were now five ships in port, including one Italian and one French. Indian Support He said he had received no information that either had been searched in passing through the gulf, where Egyptian warships are keeping a watch on shipping heading for Israel. The Foreign Minister of India, Mr M. C. Chagla, yesterday told Parliament that India supported the right of President Nasser to close the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli shipping.