Big Four Continue to Press for Mideast Settlement; Israel Denies Malik Charges

The Big Four met for two hours this morning and later re-affirmed the need to “continue and accelerate” their consultations in pursuit of a peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict. The next Four Power meeting was scheduled for Oct. 28. Last week’s suspension of the Big Four deputies’ meetings at the insistence of the United States over Suez Canal cease-fire violations was understood to have been discussed at this morning’s meeting. Sir Colin Crowe, the British Ambassador, reiterated his government’s objections to the suspension but observed that there was “no alternative but to accept it.” He added, however, that a “short break” may not be too harmful after all. The statement issued after today’s meeting stressed that the Four Powers continued to seek a Mideast settlement based on the UN Security Council’s Resolution 242. “which should be carried out in all its parts.”

(In Jerusalem, an Israeli military spokesman denied today a charge last Friday by Soviet Ambassador Yakob A. Malik that Israeli aircraft were violating the cease-fire agreement “almost daily.” The spokesman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that “The Israeli planes in the Suez Canal zone fly only within the limits prescribed by the cease-fire agreement.” Israeli spokesmen have repeatedly declared that Israel does not and has not violated the truce. The spokesman did not, however, offer any immediate reply to Mr. Malik’s charges of on-the-ground violations, including “new emplacements (for) missile installations.”)