Rogers: Some Hope for Interim Accord; Final Mideast Settlement Soon Not Too Bright

Secretary of State William P. Rogers, on his way home from a five nation Middle East tour, said at a press conference here today that he had some hope for an interim agreement to reopen the Suez Canal but was not too optimistic over the prospects of a final Mideast peace settlement in the near future. Rogers said the fact that both sides–Israel and Egypt–were prepared to discuss the practical issues involved in reopening the waterway was of significance. He stressed that Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring remained the United Nations mediator for a Mideast peace. “America does not want to assume his role,” Rogers declared. His aide, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joseph J. Sisco, reportedly conferred for several hours today with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat to explain Israel’s position after the talks in Jerusalem. There was no confirmation of reports from Beirut that Israel was willing to permit some kind of Egyptian presence on the east bank of the canal if that would remove the main obstacle to reopening the waterway. Italy’s Foreign Minister Aldo Moro greeted Rogers here yesterday and expressed Italy’s concern over the continuing Middle East conflict. Rogers said the results of his peace mission would become apparent only later. A brief communique issued after the meeting stated that Rogers had affirmed U.S. Mideast policy to be based on the Security Council’s Resolution 242, and the Jarring peace mission, and promised that the U.S. and Italy would collaborate in a common endeavor to find a peaceful solution in the Mideast.