Foreign Ministry circles said here today that the peace-seeking mission of the United Nations special emissary to the Middle East, Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring, is “not dead” despite certain claims to the contrary from Cairo. They expressed belief that Egypt is not really interested in having Ambassador Jarring end his efforts now and that the Arab states may be standing pat to see how the Nixon Administration will approach the Arab-Israel conflict. In that case, the Jarring mission is not likely to be brought to a conclusion before next January, they said.
According to these circles, Foreign Minister Abba Eban will not have reached the limit of his mandate from the Cabinet unless Egypt and Jordan refuse flatly to reply to Israel’s questions relating to their definition of a “just and lasting peace.” These and other questions were put to Egyptian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Riad in a series of memoranda by Mr. Eban transmitted through Dr. Jarring. Mr. Riad has returned to Cairo for consultations which may mean he is awaiting further instructions, the Foreign Ministry sources said.
An aide memoir passed to Mr. Riad yesterday through Dr. Jarring indicated that Israel offered to discuss with Egypt a secure and recognized boundary between the two countries if Cairo will declare specifically its willingness to establish a permanent peace with Israel.
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