Believe Jarring May Be Acting As Intermediary Between Israel and Soviet Union

Diplomatic circles here speculated today that Israel may have utilized the good offices of Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring, the United Nations special envoy for the Middle East, to expound to the Soviet Government Israel’s position in the Arab-Israeli conflict and to explain to the Kremlin what Israel regards as vital to its security. Dr. Jarring, who is the Swedish Ambassador to Moscow, returned to his post earlier this month. Foreign Minister Abba S. Eban flew to Cyprus to see him before his departure.

Today, in the Knesset, replying to questions. Mr. Eban declared that the Soviet Union had been “quite thoroughly informed” of the Israeli position and its views on the possibilities of a settlement. Israel does not have diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and any contacts would have to be through a third party.

The Israeli Foreign Minister said last night that President-elect Richard M. Nixon’s public statements and his private talks with Israeli officials gave no grounds to assume that the backbone of American policy in support of Israel would break or even weaken. Mr. Eban said in a lecture at the Rabbi Kook Institute that the United States was expected to stand fast in support of Israel’s view that the parties to the Middle East dispute must find a solution by themselves and that none should be imposed from outside.

(In London, Foreign Secretary Michael Stewart sidetracked a proposal by Christopher May-hew, a Labor MP, for action by certain Western powers to make “a constructive contribution” to a solution in the Middle East. Mr. Stewart said that “I think that with the parties concerned, and at the present time, the best thing we can do is to encourage Dr. Jarring and help him in his work.”)

(In Washington, the State Department disclosed that former Gov. William W. Scranton, President-elect Nixon’s special Middle East fact-finder, was to confer tonight with Secretary of State Dean Rusk. After that meeting, Mr. Scranton was to meet Undersecretary of State Nicholas Katzenbach and other State Department officials concerned with the Middle East.)

(In Rome, addressing the Italian Parliament today in a bid for a vote of confidence in his newly-formed government. Premier Mariano Rumor warned of “threatening stagnation and continuous acts of war” in the Middle East. He said that chances for an “equitable and peaceful settlement” there were narrowed by the lack of democratic development in the area. He said the presence of a Soviet fleet in the Mediterranean should not be over-dramatized nor should it be underrated.)

(At the United Nations, Israel complained to the Security Council that Egyptian armed forces were continuing “unprovoked” attacks against the Israeli positions on the east bank of the Suez Canal. The Israeli letter cited four instances in which it said UN observers had reported that Egyptians had opened fire and that the Israelis had not returned it. The Israelis accused Egypt of an “irresponsible attitude toward its obligations under the cease-fire.”)