Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-04
Ben-Gurion Gives SiqnoI
For Troop Withdrawal

Continued From First Page
withdrawal to proceed even be-
fort he reported to the KnesSet
parliament or held a. final"
meeting with his cabinet.
The official spokesman said
the reason for the go-ahead was
that --latest Qualifications Of the
American position had been re-
ceiyed from the United States.
and that Mr.. Ben-Gurion had
been in talks. with most cabinet
members.
Reports to Knesset Later
simultaneously it was an
nounced Mr.. Ben-Gurion will
report TO the KneSset tomorrow
instead of tonight as previously
scheduled.
Mr.. Ben-GuriOn was said TO be
near exhaustion from his con-
tlnuous round of conferences
over the week end and frequent
telephone calls to the United
States.
The sequence of events in the
Jewish capital since Fridays an
nouncement in the United Ma
tons was this:
The Israel cabinet met Satur-
day ard yesterday to reconsider
the withdrawal announcement
because Of a statement to the
United Nations by American
Delegate Henry Cabot Lodge.
Some government chiefs were
angered at Mr. Lodges comment
that the future of the GAIA Strip
should be worked out within the
framework Of the 1919 armiStice
agreement. This was taken here
to mean that Egypt would be al
lowed 10 return to GAIA. which
Israel adamantly opposes because
she claims Egypt is waging a
border war against her from
GAIA.
A cabinet meeting yesterday
adjourned without announcing
final decision on withdrawal. 1t
was scheduled to give final de-
clsion today. but was preceded by
Mr.. Ben-Gurion's order TO Gen
Davan TO proceed with with
dyaWal
Cabinet Meets Today
The cabinet vas still scheduled
to meet TINS afternoon. although
there was no longer any doubt
OF its approval of withdrawal.
Mr.. -Gurion is still faced
with a threat by the two left
wing Socialist parties to leave
his five-party coalition govern
ment. The four cabinet mem
bers representing these two par
ties voted within the cabinet
against withdrawal because OF
the American stand.
Opposition from two Socialist
groups may cause serious trouble
for Mr. -Gurion, but he is
expected to weather any crisis.
since even without the two par
ties his coalition still can muster
majority in the l20-member
Knesset.
Even if the detection of two
parties of the coalition weakens
the Ben-Gurion government to a
point where he resigns, President
Izhak Ben-Zvi is bound to ask
HIM immediately to try to form
a new government. In that case.
Mr.. Ben-Gurion would form a
new cabinet without the two dis
senting parties.
Mr. Ben-Gurion's withdrawal
order, taken over the head Of
Parliament. was unusual. if not
unprecedented. Never in the
nine-year history of Israel has
a Premier taken a major step
such AS this without going be-
fore Parliament.
Under L. 5. Pressure
The initial assumption BY for
eign observers here was that Mr..
Ben-Gurion acted under Amer-
can pressure. He also was known
to feel unwilling to reverse the
decision TO Withdraw announced
to the world by Israel last Fri
day.
MI Ben-Guron talked by tele-
phone during the night with
Israeli Ambassador Abba Eban
in Washington and received
another long report from Mr..
Eban on his talks in Washing
ton and at the U. N.
1ntormants said d majority in
both the cabinet and Parliament
had decided reluctantly to 20
ahead with the troop withdrawal
promised Friday TO avoid puni-
tive U N. sanctions and rift
with the United States.
Conflicting reports circulated
concetninA the course to be fol-
lowed by the Achdut Avoda and
the Socialist Mapam, left-wing
members Of the coalition govern
ment with two ministers each IN
the cabinet.
Both parties oppose the With
drawal without frmcr guaran-
tees from the United States.
The Jerusalem Post said IL
was believed "a strong desire 20
preserve labor unity would cause