Eban Confers With Nixon

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32304, 23 May 1970, Page 11

Eban Confers With Nixon

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, May 22.

The Israeli Foreign Minister (Mr Abba Eban) will meet President Nixon today in an effort to persuade him to provide Israel with more Phantom jet aircraft to counter the Soviet Union’s military support of Arab States.

The meeting, in the White House, comes amid reports by informed sources that Mr Eban, who has been having talks with senior Government officials since he arrived earlier this week, has failed to convince the Secretary of State (Mr William Rogers) that more United States military aid is necessary to balance the influx of Russian arms into the Middle East. Mr Eban told a news conference last night that his country's request for 25 additional supersonic F 4 Phantom jet fighters was more urgent now than when it was first made to President Johnson in 1968. But, he said, no positive response had been made so far to the Israeli bid for the Phantoms and 100 Skyhawk aircraft, and he would not anticipate Mr Nixon’s decision.

Mr Eban, who conferred with Mr Rogers on Wednesday, met members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday. During his meeting with the press he called for international action and aid to Israel to counter what he described as Moscow’s encouragement of Arab hostility towards Israel.

Examples of this, he said, were the introduction of Sam-3 anti-aircraft missiles I and Russian pilots into Egypt. | Mr Eban said he thought [ that there should be a firm international response to the Soviet Union’s moves; if world reaction was indifferent or apathetic, it might encourage Moscow to continue its I involvement in the Middle i East. Firm, realistic action

could correct the disturbed equilibrium in the area. Mr Eban said that public statements by both President Nixon and Mr Rogers, that Washington would not permit Israel’s security to be threatened by Soviet Union arms, justified the sale to Israel of more American aircraft.