Jarring Begins Talks; Meets with Rogers; Will Discuss Other Steps in Mideast Peace

The formalities of laying the basis for peace negotiations between Israel and Egypt and Jordan began here today as Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring, the United Nations special Middle East envoy initiated his round of talks with Secretary General U Thant and his top aides. The Swedish diplomat also met with United States Secretary of State William P. Rogers for what a UN spokesman termed an “overview of the Middle East situation.” Mr. Rogers, who had been weekending at the summer White House in San Clemente. California, flew into New York this afternoon. A UN spokesman said the meeting between Mr. Rogers. Dr. Jarring, Mr. Thant and Under-Secretary Dr. Ralph J. Bunche was at the request of the Secretary of State. Rumors had been rife during the day that Mr. Rogers felt his peace plan, rather than any proposal by the Big Four, should be the guideline for Dr. Jarring resuming his peace mission. Emerging from his meeting Mr. Rogers was asked if he resolved his differences with Mr. Thant as to whose instructions should guide the ambassador. The Secretary of State replied only that he had no differences with Mr. Thant over Ambassador Jarring. Until now. the Swedish diplomat has taken his instructions from Mr. Thant and his peace mission activities have been mandated by the Security Council. The role of the Big Four is to find a guideline for reactivating the peace mission but the guideline has to first be approved by Mr. Thant as “positive.”

While Dr. Jarring is in New York he is also expected to meet with the ambassadors of the Big Four powers and those of Israel, Egypt and Jordan. It was learned that Dr. Jarring will “call” Israeli Ambassador Yosef Tekoah tomorrow but there was no indication that the two officials will meet immediately. UN spokesmen said today that there is no “time table” for Dr. Jarring’s stay in New York. One source noted that the duration of his stay here will “depend on what happens during his talks (here) and developments in the Middle East.” But while he is here, the Swedish diplomat is expected to explore three areas concerning the next steps in the Mideast peace settlement: the size of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) to supervise the cease-fire; the duration of the cease-fire; and the location for the peace talks. Any one of these elements, observers here said, could stymie actual peace negotiations for weeks. if not for months. Another problem that is bound to flow the gears in the machinery of peace talks is whether the cease-fire or the talks will take place first or whether they will coincide. On this question. Israel was the only nation of those who accepted the U.S. peace plan that stated affirmatively that it will appoint “at the appropriate time, a representative for peace negotiations without prior conditions, under the auspices of Ambassador Jarring, within the framework of Security Council Resolution 242, and with the aim of reaching a binding contractual agreement.”

CLARIFICATION DUE ON WHETHER JARRING HAS, IN EFFECT, ALREADY REACTIVATED HIS MISSION

Continuing its statement, which the government of Israel issued last Friday accepting the U.S. initiative, Israel noted: “Israel’s position in respect of a cease-fire on all sectors, including the Egyptian front, on the basis of reciprocity, in accordance with the resolution (242) of the Security Council. remains in force. Taking into account the clarifications provided by the government of the United States, Israel is prepared to subscribe to the proposal of the United States concerning a cease-fire for three months at least on the Egyptian front.” Observers here said this statement came closer to spelling out the sequence of a cease-fire followed by talks than that issued by either Egypt or Jordan. Egypt did not spell out the sequence and Jordan, a few days after Egypt announced its acceptance of the U.S. plan, announced merely that it would accept what Egypt accepted and reject what Egypt rejected.

It remained unclear, however, whether Dr. Jarring’s peace mission would be contingent on this sequence or whether he would resume his peace mission on the basis of the acceptance by the three Mideast nations involved in the primary conflict and to whom Mr. Rogers addressed his peace proposals last month. According to Mr. Rogers’ letter to Egypt dated July 19. the sequence was formulated in this order: “The UAR. Jordan and Israel advise (Dr. Jarring) that they agree that having accepted and indicated their willingness to carry out Resolution 242 in all its points, they will designate representatives to discussions to be held under my (Dr. Jarring’s) auspices, according to such procedures and times as I (Dr. Jarring) may recommend. Mr. Rogers proposed that such a statement be issued by the three nations to Dr. Jarring which the ambassador could then use as a report to Mr. Thant. UN spokesmen, asked whether Dr. Jarring’s return to New York meant that his peace mission was actually reactivated or whether he was just here to consult with “parties” about the feasibility of reactivating his mission, said they would have to “seek clarification.”