U.S. Sees Situation in Lebanon As ‘Fraught with Peril’ and is Trying to Defuse the Crisis

The Reagan Administration, concerned about the situation in Lebanon which it sees as "fraught with peril", is trying to defuse the crisis, a State Department spokesman said today. But the spokesman, David Passage, said the Administration has set no "deadline" for action even though it views conditions in Lebanon with "urgency."

Passage refused to comment on specific U.S. requests, such as removal of the SAM-6 anti-aircraft missiles Syria placed in Lebanon last week. "The principal American objective is to defuse the level of tension in the area," he said. To obtain that objective, Passage said the U.S. would continue diplomatic and political efforts. But he would not be specific.

Neither the State Department nor the White House would confirm that President Reagan sent a letter to Israeli Premier Menachem Begin asking Israel to be patient while diplomatic measure are undertaken.

WON’T GIVE SCORE CARD ON U.S. EFFORTS

Passage emphasized that the U.S. is working with all parties involved in the conflict, except the Palestine Liberation Organization. But he said other parties, some Arab states, were presumably in contact with the PLO, urging it to help reduce the tension, too. The spokesman said he would not want to give a "score card" on U.S. efforts to ease the latest crisis in Lebanon.

"Thus far, the situation has not deteriorated into out-and-out conflict," Passage said, and "it’s our objective to prevent the situation from deteriorating into out-and-out conflict." He said the U.S. was "satisfied" that the Soviet Union understands the "importance" with which the U.S. regards the situation in Lebanon. But he would not say what the Soviet response has been.

Passage noted, however, that the Soviet Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Dobrynin, has discussed Lebanon at two meetings at the State Department last week. The U.S. reportedly seeks to have Moscow persuade the Syrians to remove the missiles from Lebanon.