8. The Near East looks to the United States for leader- ' ship, and is "frustrated" when this leadership is lacking. Citizens of the Near Eastern nations generally ; distrust Russia.

The Crowley judge said the! President's letters to Arab! leaders were well received he-1 cause these leaders were un-! certain how the United States; would approach the Palestinian! problem.

President Kennedy's letters, the judge said, helped to assure Arab nations that a solution will be "bi-late-ral" and not strictly pro-Israeli.

The Arab countries, Judge Reggie said, are concerned about the repatriation to Israel of about one million Arabs who fled in 1948. At stake and the biggest questions are the per-, centage who can be repatriated! and on what basis compensation will be paid to the refugees, he added,

Judge Reggie was optimistic that the question would be favorably agreed upon by both Israel and ;the Arab nations when the issue comes up before the United Nations in October.

He said he found that the UN — which has been forced to mediate several major crises in the Near East — is generally respected in that area.

"I found no apparent indication toward Communism for two reasons," Judge Reggie said. "First, because Communism is inconsistent with their religious faiths, and second,- because the Arab takes great pride in his freedom."

'MO jtittges-r.aid_the.PotrtfiOTIr program in Lebanon was terminated while he was visiting that nation. He said that he would recommend that "some sort" of American aid be continued, as the Point Four program had done very much good.

Judge Reggie had one novel! proposal for the United States :I erect statues or monuments signifying US friendshid in various communities of the Near Ea stern nations.

He said this could he done cheaply and would provide "tan-; gible, permanent symbols of our friendship."

The judge said his kncrwledge! of the Arabic tongue served! him well during his tour. He; made several lectures speaking entirely in Arabic.

One interesting sidelight of the judge's tour, he said, v as his visit to the tiny Lebanese village of Ehden, where he saw his maternal grandmother for the first time.

He said a crowd of about 1 15000 natives turned out to greet him at Ehden, showering him with rose petals and;

yelling, "Viva Kennedy!"

He added that he received;

similar friendly, enthusiastic welcomes in other Near Eastern cities and towns he visited.

Purpose of the tour, Judge Reggie said, was to "discuss with the Arabs the American judicial system and American concept of justice, and while doing this, explain the American viewpoint towards their countries."

Judge Reggie left Crowley May 26 for his state department-sponsored tour of the Near fok.St. He was accompanied by