Denials That Allen, Hussein Met Dismissed; Eben Reported in Talks with Hussein

Political observers today brushed off the vehement denials issued by authorities here and in Amman yesterday of reports that secret meetings have been held between Deputy Premier Y’all Allen and King Hussein, of Jordan. They noted that under present conditions the King could not bear the political consequences of an open admission that he had met with Israeli leaders–a violation of Arab strictures against direct negotiations. The story, held up by Israeli censors for nearly a week, was broken by Time magazine which claimed that there had been a series of meetings between Allen and Hussein and that the latter had also met at least once with Premier Golda Meir. Most knowledgeable sources here believe the Time account to be true in substance if not in all of its details. They also profess to see certain consequences of the talks emerging on both sides of the Israel-Jordan border. According to these sources, the latest outbreak of fighting between Jordanian regulars and Palestinian guerrillas around the towns of Irbid and Jerash in northern Jordan yesterday was a demonstration by King Hussein that he is determined to keep the commandos in check.

The Jordanian front has been quieter in recent weeks than at any time since the June, 1967 war. Time claimed that King Hussein promised Mr. Allon that he would restrain the guerrillas from attacking Israel from Jordanian soil. According to the accounts, the meetings with Israeli leaders were sought by King Hussein because he was worried over a Palestinian separatist movement developing on the West Bank, seemingly with the encouragement and approval of Israel. Observers here noted that since the reported meetings, Israeli officials who had been talking in terms of a “Palestinian entity” and greater autonomy for West Bankers, seem to have dropped the subject. More details of the Allon-Hussein meetings emerged here today. Their most recent meeting, reportedly held last month at an isolated Israeli military compound deep in the Araba desert south of the Dead Sea, was said to have been preceded by several others, some of which took place in London and one aboard a ship at sea.

Foreign Minister Abba Eban reportedly took part in one of the meetings. The language used was Arabic of which Mr. Eban has a fluent command. Deputy Premier Allon also speaks Arabic but only the vernacular in current use in Israel, Jordan and Syria. Mr. Allon and Mr. Eban reportedly tried to persuade Defense Minister Moshe Dayan to join their meetings with Hussein but he refused on grounds that they were pointless. Gen. Dayan is also fluent in Arabic, According to reports, Gahal leader Menachem Beigin who was a member of the coalition government until last August, knew of the meetings but was opposed to them. Sources here said the meetings were likely to continue in the future despite the publicity which the Time disclosure aroused. In the future however they will be held in a manner and at a place that would preclude any leakage. One Arab affairs expert here said today that King Hussein can be expected to act according to his needs and if he needs the Israelis he will meet with them in secret while continuing to call them names in public.