A State Department spokesman today said there would be no further comment beyond that of Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird’s regarding Israeli complaints that Egypt had moved Soviet-built missiles closer to the Suez Canal after the cease-fire went into effect. Sec. Laird said yesterday on the American Broadcast Company’s television program “Issues and Answers” there had been no Egyptian violations of the truce since the United States began “reliable” verification procedures about 24 hours after the cease-fire had begun. He said it was impossible to “prove or disprove” Israeli charges that Egypt had violated the cease-fire in the first few hours after it had come into effect. Meeting with newsmen today Robert J. McCloskey, State Department spokesman, said the State Department had not yet reached a conclusion on Israeli charges of Egyptian violations of the cease-fire but was continuing “contacts and conversations” with the Israel government.
Questioned as to whether Israeli intelligence was not as good as that of the U.S., Mr. McCloskey replied, “I wouldn’t say that.” He admitted the American government was seeking to hurry peace talks but, he said, “We are not parties to the talks. It is up to the parties involved to bring the matter of violations to the attention of Mr. (Gunnar V.) Jarring.” Mr. McCloskey said if violations could be proved the U.S. would take up the matter with the governments involved. He also said the State Department would have a statement on the Middle East “sometime this week, but not today” and admitted the alleged missile violations were being discussed with Egypt in both Washington and Cairo.
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