Carter Praises Begin, Sadat for Trying to Negotiate Mideast Solution Says U.S. Will Help in Every Wa

President Carter said last night in a nationally televised program that Premier Menachem Begin of Israel and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt ï¿??have been bold and courageousï¿?? in trying to negotiate a Middle East solution.

The President said he thought ï¿??the progress that has been made in the last month and a half has been remarkable and has been much better than I had anticipated. I know Sadat and Begin well and personally and favorably. If any two leaders on earth have this strength and dete3rmination and courage to make progress toward peace in the most difficult region that I have ever known, it is Prime Minister Begin and President Sadat. There is no reason for us to be discouraged about it.ï¿??

Carter, who was interviewed for an hour on wide-ranging domestic and foreign issues on the eve of his departure on a six-nation trip which includes Iran and Saudi Arabia, said: ï¿??We will help in every way we can to let their progress be fruitful. I think Prime Minister Begin and Predsident Sadat Could have reached a fairly quick Solution of just the Egyptian-Israeli problem in just the Sinai region. But this is not what they want. They both want to try to resolve the other questions.ï¿??

WILL SEEK ANSWERS FROM HUSSEIN

Carter said that when he meets with King Hussein of Jordan in Iran on Saturday he will try to learn ï¿??what role Jordan is willing to play in the resolution of the Palestinian West Bank problem, at what point King Hussein thinks it would be advisable for him to get into the negotiations personally as a government leader and what we can do to get him to give his open support and encouragement to both Begin and Sadat as they struggle to resolve the differences between them.ï¿??

REJECTS PALESTINIAN INDEPENDENT NATION

Regarding Israelï¿??s plan for the West Bank, Carter stated that he does ï¿??favor a homeland or an entity wherein the Palestinians can live in peace. I think Prime Minister Begin has taken a long step forward offering to President Sadat, and indirectly to the Palestinians, self-rule.ï¿??

Carter added that Sadat ï¿??so far is insisting that the so-called Palestinian entity be an independent nation. My own preference is that they not be an independent nation, but be tied in some way to the surrounding countries between Israel and Jordan. ï¿?? He said that in his own personal opinion :permanent peace can best be maintained if there is not a fairly radical new independent nation in the heart of the Middle Eastern area.ï¿??

LAUDS BEGIN FOR FLEXIBILITY

Carter praised Begin for having shown a great deal of flexibility. ï¿??Obviously Sadat and King Hussein would have to accept whatever proposal is put forward, but the length of time when the interim agreement would be in effect would be negotiable and the exact relationship between the new selfruled government as far as its autonomy is concerned, its dependence upon or subservience to the Jordanians or the Israelisï¿??all these things are still to be negotiated so I think there is enough flexibility at this point.ï¿??

Carter said that some Arab leaders have indicated to him that if a guarantee arrangement between the United States and Israel would be worked out, it would be acceptable to them. But he said ï¿??my preference would be that our involvement would be minimized after an agreement has been reached. But if it became a matter of having negotiations, break down completely, our having some limited role as mutually acceptable among those parties involved, we would consider it very favorably.ï¿??

VANCE INCITED TO JERUSALEM TALKS

Meanwhile, the State Department announced last night that Secretary of State Cyrus Vance will attend talks in Jerusalem next month along with the foreign ministers of Israel and Egypt in the ï¿??political committeeï¿?? that was set up by Begin and Sadat during their weekend summit talks in Ismailia. This committee will deal with differences between Egypt and Israel on the Palestinian issue and the future of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

According to the State Department, Vance has already received formal invitations form both Egypt and Israel to attend the talks ï¿??but the timing has not yet been worked out,ï¿?? a Department official said. The talks are due to convene mid-January.