French Officers Irked by Dismissals in Gunboat Affair
ping company that specializes in
(Continued from Page One)
made scapegoats for the mis- the transport of frozen produce.
Capt. Brenner said it was estab-
takes of politicians." They are also
reduction of lishing a subsidiary, Oil Ventures
bitter over the
International,
which holds leases
France's defense budget. Their
feelings are said to have been for oil prospecting off the coasts
Elysee of Canada, South Africa and in
the
communicated to
the Adriatic Sea. He said the boats
Palace.
would be employed wherever they
A sharp attack on France's arms
embargo against Israel was pub- were needed. Meanwhile, they are
on a long-term charter to Netivei
lished Monday in the leftist week-
N
an Israeli company that
ly Nouvel Observateur, which doesepht,
plans to drill for oil off Israel's
not normally take a pro - Israel
the shores.
stand. An editorial signed by
The boats were purchased by
editor, Jean Daniel. asserted that
is opposed by public Starboat and Weill S.A., of Pan-
the embargo
opinion in France, civilian and ama, of which Brenner is a di-
military, because it is "contrary to rector. The French Defense
Ministry had identified that firm
the country's sense of honor."
as Norwegian when the boats
Daniel wrote that President
left Cherbourg, and an interna-
Pompidou has not given in to
tional furor arose when Norway
Debre's demand for harsh action
denied this.
against Israel in the gunboat
Starboat and Weill has a repre-
affair because he knows it would sentative in Oslo in the person of
not be tolerated by the French Martin Siem, who heads the Aker
public. Instead, the president
g roup, Norway's largest ship-build-
U.S. Concern on Arms Deal
Fails to Register With French
WASH I NGTON
French government has appar-
ently rejected u.s. expression of
concern over its reported
$400.000.0 0 0 arms deal pending
with Libya.
The U.S. ambassador in Paris,
Sargent Shriver, brought tip the
subject Tuesday at a meeting with
French Foreign Minister Maurice •
Schumann.
French officials said afterwards
that the two had exchanged "in-
, formation on all problems re-
lated to the Middle East."
State Department sources dis-
closed Tuesday that the subjec t
of the French-Libyan arms deal
British air base near Ben Gazi,
which are being evacuated at the
demand of Libya's new military
junta.
French officials have said that
the talks with Libya were of a
- general character. They take
the view that arms sales to Libya
do not violate the arms embargo
that former President Charles de
Gaulle imposed on belligerents in
the Six-Day War. They said that
unlike Israel, Egypt, Syria and
Jordan, Libya was not a partici-
pant in that conflict.
But American officials are
concerned that French arms sold
to Libya will eventually find
their way to Egypt and other
Arab states actively fighting
Israel.
Military experts say that the
arms involved in the French deal
far exceed Libya's defense needs
and are too sophisticated for Lib-
ya's army and air force to operate.
F T-
was raised last week when the
French ambassador, Charles Lu-
cet, was informed of the U.S.
views by Secretary of State Wil-
liam P. Rogers.
Lucet apparently failed to satisfy
American apprehensions, which
decided on a relatively moder- ing enterprise. Siem is a close may have led Ambassador Shriver
to request Tuesday's meeting with
ate course of action after con-
friend and business associate of
suiting with Premier Jacques Brenner. His firm built most of Schumann.
France was reported negotiating
Chaban•Delmas and Foreign the Maritime Fruit Carriers' fleet
Minister Maurice Schumann.
with Libya for the sale of up to
of fast refrigerated ships.
50 Mirage jets, 200 tanks and other
Meanwhile, Israel's cabinet has
M e a nwhile, Israel has ap-
sharply criticized the French gov- parently concluded that the French modern arms. France also is re-
Two top French defense ministry officials were suspended on
ernment for demanding the recall government will not release its 50 ported to have offered to take
charges of collusion in the Israeli gunboat affair. Gen. Bernard
and main-
over
the
management
Gazelles
(left) and Engineer Gen. Louis Binge were ousted follow-
of Adm. Limon. embargoed Mirage supersonic jets
tenance of the huge U.S. Wheelus
A statement issued by the ca- in the near future and has with- Air Force Base near Tripoli and a ing a cabinet meeting called by President Georges Pompidou.
.
binet after its meeting Sunday. in- drawn all of its air crews
an d
sisted that Israel had violated no maintenance personnel that have
international law when it took been standing by the planes, it was Peace-Loving People Still Optimistic
over five French-built gunboats at !learned. The air crews :eft France
Cherbourg on Christmas Day and : six months ago, and the mainte-
sailed them to Israel in defiance nance men were withdrawn about
of France's arms embargo. sixiweeks ago.
The planes themselves have
The cabinet statement said the
French demand was "unjustified" been transferred from two bases
and placed the onus on the arms at Ilstres and Bordeaux-Merignac
causes American Jews to extract Israel, the editors are the guests
(Continued from Page
embargo that - withholds equip- in southern and western France to
"the recesses of the Jewish of the organization and informa-
that
may
be
functioning
now
on
a!
from
ment legally acquired and paid Chateaudun, a huge central France
have all the newcomers tion department of the Jewish
very small scale and could emerge heart" as
for by Israel in violation of normal airbase, where they are now being
-"inat Israel h ther they Agency, headed by A v r a h a m
Schenker. This is the first tour of
and with maintained by French air force on a large scale. Israeli Arabs ; stem from East or West.
international conduct
damaging effects on peace pro - crews and mechanics of the Das- are not immune from the influ-
It has been said, jocularly of Israel especially arranged for edi-
exerted by Nasser.1
tors and publishers of the Ameri-
sault company, which manufac- ence that is
spects in the Middle East."
But the Israelis are not frightened course, that the Arabs are hinting
can Jewish press. While in Israel,
Israel's views on the matter 1 tured the Mirages.
The French authorities appar- even by that because the roots arelto Israel: "Why must you win all participants, who are members of
will be made known to France
by Foreign Minister Abba Eb a n en tl y b e lieve that surveillance of in faith, and the people of Israel wars? Please let us win just the American Jewish Publishers
no intention to abandon the one." It has its roots in truth: one Association, will devote one day
through diplomatic channels. The the planes will be easier at the in- have
will to live. loss and Israel is doomed. Yet on
to their annual meeting.
cabinet statement pointed out land base.
The indestructibility of Israel is all fronts, the army and civilian,
The first Soviet comment on
In Israel, the editors will visit
that while the arms embargo is
the constant prayer for
impressively
by
Israel's
there
is
explained
border areas at the Suez Canal,
the gunboat incident was an
in effect against Israel, massive
Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Al- peace. So much so that there is a
editorial in Pravda, the Soviet
Golan Ileights and tour the West
shipments of French arms are
Ion in an introduction to a fasci- new Hebrew song chanted in Is-
Communist Party paper, de-
Bank, including Nablus, Rantal-
going to Arab states, and a ma-
rael? "All we are saying is give
lab and Jericho. They will be
jor French arms deal is being
nouncing Israel's "theft of five nating book. "One People," printed
- peace a chance." It was introduced
Bat
Yam.
Israel,
by
the
Lewin
gunboats
from
France."
The
in
country
guests for dinner of Gen.
the
negotiated with Libya, a
enter-
paper militantly restated the Epstein Co. and soon to be dis - by Lakahat Ha'nahal army
Raphael Vardi, military gover-
that has said it will lend its
tainment
unit,
and
it
affirms:
by
I Kremlin's intention to "liquidate tributed in the United States
forces to an attack on Israel.
nor of the West Bank, who will
"Raise your eyes in hope, not
address them on "The Military
Israel insists that the unarmed the consequences of Israeli ag- Sabra Books and Funk and Wag-
nails. In that book (authored by through rifle sights. Sound a song
and Civil Administration of the
gunboats were purchased by a' , gression in the Middle East."
to
love
and
not
to
victories.
Those
private company for use in off- ! U.S. Secretary of State William Devorah and Menahem Haco en),
West Bank."
shore oil prospecting and that P. Rogers carefully followed the Alton recalls that in 1951 a well whose light has been extinguished
The editors will meet for inter-
Adm. Limon violated neither the ' voyage of the five Israeli gunboats known Arab scholar who was and who rest in the desert sand views with leaders of the govern-
will
not
be
revived
by
bitter
tears.
letter nor the spirit of the law and reportedly found the episode known as a moderate predicted
ment and the Jewish Agency,
when he signed papers making "very amusing." He disclosed his that the Arabs would win the Neither the joy of victory nor among them Prime Minister Golda
: interest in the incident in informal second round with Israel. He then songs of praise will bring them Meir, Foreign Minister Abba Eban,
their sale possible.
The civilian role intended for the i conversation at a year-end cock- said that in another confrontation back to us. Do not say the day of Tourism Minister Moshe, Kol,
40-knot craft was emphasized Mon- tail party given by the State De- with Israel the Arab states wou peace will come. Do something to Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem
and Chairman Louis A. Pincus and
day by Capt. Milla Brenner, a di- partment Correspondents Associa- commit fewer errors and that the bring it closer."
rector of Maritime Fruit Carriers tion. A number of other State De- hundreds of thousands of Jews Is- : This spirit is heard more in the members of the Jewish Agency
Ltd., the principal owner of the'; partment officials indicated that rael had begun to welcome from army than anywhere else—or as Executive.
Panamanian firm that bought the i they, too, enjoyed following the Moslem countries "have the short-' : much as anywhere else. The mili-
A highlight of the visit will be
boats. Maritime is an Israeli ship-' unusual affair. comings of the Arabs with none' tary as much as the civilians feel a visit to a session of the Knesset
of the advantages of free peoples," I that unless there is a hope and after which the editors will be
that "these newcomers will lower desire for peace there can be little guests at a reception tendered
the standards of the Israel defense strength in the struggle for life.
them by Reuben Barkatt, chairman
forces." I The Israel peace song is evid- of the Knesset. A formal reception
Allon wrote that he never took , ence of how Israelis feel in the also will be given the executive
that evaluation seriously, and he current state of war. There is no of the Jewish Agency. Scheduled
NEW YORK (JTA)—The Con- alliance with Egypt and its own
joined in emphasizing the one i yielding to threats of destruction, are meetings with the Israel
ference of Presidents of Major lack of need for such quantities
people strength by offering a new neither is there submission to branch of the International Jew-
American Jewish Organizations of advanced weaponry make
sense of pride in the status of Jews panic: there is the hope that has ish Press Association and the
eharged that French foreign policy clear the ultimate destination of
from Oriental countries. He said been expressed in the national Israel Journalists Association.
placed France "at the side of Rus- these arms."
that "Israel's existence is hardly song of hope in Zionist days, that
The visiting American journal-
sia in fanning the fires of conflict
The telegram noted that French conceivable without them" and has been adopted as one of the ists will tour several of the Jew-
in the Middle East."
President Georges Pompidou plans added:
national anthems and is imple- ish Agency's major projects in
The charge was contained in a
to visit the United States early
"The bright periods in Eastern mented with the new peace song Israel, which are financed by
telegram to the French ambassa-
next year. It urged him "to reas-
Jewry, scintillating with their that is shared by the army and the United Jewish Appeal funds,
dor in Washington, Charles Lucet,
sert the traditional French posi-
scholars, rabbis and poets, were people it defends.
among them the absorption center
protesting a reported $400,000,000
tion of concern for human values
not lost in the limbo of passing
Indeed, grimness is overshadow- at Ashdod, the Aliya Hanoar
French arms deal with Libya. The
by lifting its embargo against Is-
time.
Their
impact
on
present
ed
here
by
hope,
confidence,
faith
Youth Village of Youth Aliya, and
Jewish leadership group said it rael, a small people bent only on
Jewish history and their influ- —all rooted in the will to live.
several other youth and educa-
was "dismayed by the evident pro-
surviving."
ence
on
days
to
come
does
credit
Jewish
Agency
Sponsors
tional projects.
Arab, anti-Israel stand" of the
to
their
glorious
past.
For
such
The touring editors are accom-
Tour
to
Israel
of
Editors
fel-
He added that "we with our
French government.
is the power that Israel has—to of 27 Jewish Newspapers
panied by Henry W. Levy, pub-
"Having entered into an arms low Americans would hope to be
open
the
recesses
of
the
Jewish
lic
NEW
YORK—Editors
and
pub-
relations director of the Jew-
deal with Libya to supply the able to welcome France's presi-
heart, just as the Jews are lishers of 2'7 American Jewish ish Agency, who organized the
most sophisticated planes and dent as the representative of a gov-
bringing to light the ancient sec- newspapers left for Israel by El Al tour and is acting as its guide and
tanks, the French administration ernment which will have aban-
rets of the land, in their contact Jan. 4, on a tour of the country host. Slomovitz served in behalf
at the same time continues its doned power machinations in the
with it."
sponsored by the Jewish Agency of his fellow editors as consultant
Inequitable embargo on the sup- competition for oil and illusory
Perhaps this is the secret of the for Israel. Mr. and Mrs. Philip in making arrangements for the
of essential defense material Arab power and which will once
miracle
of
Israel's
survival
and
Slomovitz of The Detroit Jewish tour. The meeting of the American
to Israel in breach of its inter- again have proclaimed its great-
national agreement," the tele- n•ss by supporting the cause of the nation's successes. Those who News are among the participants Jewish Publishers Association is
Israel Undaunted by Hostility
Presidents Conference Protests
to France Against Pro-Arab Stand
-
. ply
gram said. It said that "Libya's
34—Friday, January 9,, 1970
gave the impression of being back- on the tour.
being held under the chairman-
ward now are the integral part
Organized by the American sec- ship of James Wisch, president
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS of a. ,strong national entity, that tion of the Jewish Agency for of the association.
justice and peace.