United Nations mediator Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring conferred with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Riad for nearly two hours here today. While Dr. Jarring refused to make any comment to the press, reliable sources said he informed the Egyptian diplomat that resumption of his Middle East peace mission would have to await Israel’s reply to his questionnaire of Feb. 8, to which Egypt has already replied. Dr. Jarring arrived here from New York last night and was expected to leave tomorrow for Moscow to resume his Swedish ambassadorial duties for the time being. Dr. Jarring’s Feb. 8 note asked Israel if it was prepared to offer a commitment to the principle of withdrawal from occupied Arab territories. The note got a less than enthusiastic reception in Jerusalem where some officials charged that it exceeded the scope of Dr. Jarring’s mandate from the Security Council. Cairo replied in the affirmative to the envoy’s note asking if Egypt agreed in principle to make peace with Israel. Following his meeting with Dr. Jarring, Riad conferred for nearly two hours with French Foreign Minister Maurice Schumann. He told newsmen afterwards that the meeting was “fruitful and useful” and indicated that the two countries agreed to continue to place their trust in the Jarring mission for a settlement of the Mideast conflict. Informed sources said Riad and Schumann agreed to consult before either country undertook any new major diplomatic initiative.
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