Guns, batons protect peace oasis

Press, 28 March 1979, Page 6

Guns, batons protect peace oasis

Armed police wearing bullet-proof vests and riot helmets formed a two-deep human barrier across Lafayette Square yesterday to prevent angry Arab demonstrators from" gate-crashing the Egyptian-Israeli peace ceremony in the grounds of the White House.

The’police, part of a 1000strong force, were prepared for trouble from Palestinian Arabs, some of whom had vowed to disrupt the programme, but there were only two minor skirmishes and no serious injuries. With their faces protected by reinforced shields, the policemen, carrying gas masks and metre-long “crowd control” batons on their gun belts, managed to confine the. 800 protesters to the far side

of the square, but could not stop the continuous barrage of abuse and chanting from reaching the ears of the 1600 specially’ invited guests who gathered on the front lawn of the White House 200 metres away to witness the long-awaited treaty.

The protests of the Arabs were often drowned out by tumultuous applause from within the grounds as the Israeli Prime Minister (Mr Begin), the Egyptian President (Mr Sadat) and President Carter spoke after signing the documents of peace. Security’ around the White House "was exceptionally 1 tight. Nearby. streets were [closed to all but authorised [ vehicles, and guests had to (produce identity’ passes and *have their names checked;

against a master roll to gain admission. The State Department did not extend invitations to the diplomatic staff of countries other than Egypt and Israel. Only specially accredited journalists and photographers

were admitted and even then, only on proof of identity at the gate.

Cameras and tape re-; corders came under close scrutiny by the police and Secret Service staff. Photographers were ordered to fire their shutters and wind on

their film, while telephoto lenses were removed from camera bodies and carefully inspected for concealed weapons. Journalists with tape recorders had to prove to the police that they worked. The 500-strong press corps was described by White House aides as the biggest for many years. The three key men of the day walked briskly from the White House at precisely 2 p.m,, across the front courtyard to the lawn where the

flags of the three-nations flew behind a nineteenth-century walnut table adorned only by three stands of microphones. A military band played “All Hail the Chief” as the leaders took their seats, i Above them, a security officer

on the roof of the White House scanned buildings with a binocular. Secret Service men soon became obvious as they stood, backs to the official party, watching guests and journalists. Everyone stod for five minutes while the band played the three national anthems. Then the signing began. After endorsing the minutes of an earlier meeting, the leaders were presented with nine copies of the documents of peace, in blue Morroco leather with triple gold stripes on the corners. Mr Sadat and Mr Begin signed the documents in English and their respective national languages, President Carter witnessed their signing of the treaty — and in three minutes it was all over.

By LES BLOXHAM, who attended the peace treaty ceremony at the White House in Washington.