Jarring’s Trip to Israel Reported Gesture of Independence from Big Four Pressure

Diplomatic circles close to Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring said today that the United Nations Middle East mediator’s flight to Jerusalem at the invitation of the Israel government last week was a gesture of independence from Big Four pressure on how and where to conduct his peace mission. The circles said that Dr. Jarring, who also serves as Sweden’s Ambassador to Moscow, has resented the constant pressure from the Four Powers as to where to go, how to react to situations and what to say in official statements. He wants to assert his right to choose his own methods and the site of his contacts with the disputing parties, they said. According to these circles, Dr. Jarring was on the verge of resigning at one stage because he felt he was not being given a chance to exercise his own initiative within his mandate from the Security Council. They said he intends to continue his independent line and thus to be much more effective in the future. (At the United Nations in New York, Dr, Jarring, who returned here late yesterday, spoke with Secretary General Thant then and again this morning, and prepared to resume separate conferences with the Egyptian, Jordanian and Israeli ambassadors. Some observers emphasized that three times in the preceding 24 hours he had said his consultations in Jerusalem over the weekend had been useful and constructive.)