The Soviet Union indicated to Syria yesterday that it had better tone down its calls for a “war of liberation” against Israel, and concentrate instead on constructive developments. At the same time the Kremlin attacked Jordan’s King Hussein for opposing “progressive elements” in the Middle East, and again accused Western “imperialism” of responsibility for the current tensions in the Middle East. It also criticized Israel, but in a much milder form than earlier.
The Soviet view appeared in Pravda, organ of the Communist Party, and was interpreted in part as a hint that the Kremlin wants the regime in Syria, which it has supported, to go easy on its war aims. Asserting that even the West recognizes now that the Soviet policy in the Middle East aims toward lessening of tensions and securing peace in the area, Pravda said: “It is not on the battlefield, but on constructive sites, that people build their future.”
Pravda reminded Syria that the USSR has been providing economic and technical aid for the construction of a proposed Syrian dam on the Euphrates River.
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