Hopes That Air Clash Won't Affect Negotiations

Chronicle (Levin), 11 January 1949, Page 5

Hopes That Air Clash Won't Affect Negotiations

fN.Z.P.A--

- Reuter *

Covyright)

Received Tuesday, 10 a.m. LONDON, Jan. 10. The United States today, in what constituted an implicit appeal to Britain and Israel,, expressed confldence that the shooting down of the five Royal Air Force planes by Israeli fighters "will be eonsidered is a regrettable incident only, and will not interfere with the truce negotiations or Rhodes talks/' The announcement also said that the United States "has been given to understand that if tjiere are any Israeli troops still in Egypt, they are in the process of being withdrawn." The announcement was made. in Washington by the United States State Department, and information supplied by American officials there indicated that the department was concentrating all its efforts.on persuading both Britain and Israel not to enlarge the air clash incident to the point where it would doom the success of the Rhodes talks. These American officials disclosed that in making their first approach to Israel regarding her incursions across the Egyptian frontier a fortnight ago, they had feared that some incident might occur to dash their hopes of a cease-fire and successful truce. A State Department spokesman, Mr. Michael McDermott, denied reports that Britain was urging the United States to "take a stand" against Israel on the incident.