Serious Talks with Russians Continue

Robert J.McCloskey, State Department spokesman, said today that “serious discussions” are still going on with the Russians concerning the Middle East war. At the same time other officials said that there is no end to hostilities in sight and that so far no turning point has been achieved by either side. McCloskey refused to comment on Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s threat made earlier today that Egypt would launch its long-range Zafer missiles against the heart of Israel.

McCloskey also refused to comment on Premier Golda Meir’s announcement that Israeli forces had crossed the Suez Canal and were battling on its west bank. For the second successive day he evaded answering directly when asked if the U.S. has given up trying to achieve a cease-fire that would return both sides to the pre-Yom Kippur lines. He said he would not attempt to answer questions that would “inflame” or “complicate” the negotiating process.

White House spokesman Gerald Warren announced, meanwhile, that President Nixon will meet with four Arab foreign ministers at their request to discuss the Middle East war. The four are Abdelazis Bouteflika, of Algeria; Shiekh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber, of Kuwait; Ahmed Benhima, of Morocco; and Omar Sakhaf, of Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is expected to be present tomorrow.

McCloskey described the Soviet airlift to Egypt and Syria as still “massive” and said the delivery of war materiel to those countries was continuing at the same pace as described yesterday when he said that roughly 4000 tons of material had been delivered on approximately 280 flights. (Other US officials estimated today that the Russians so far have flown about 5000 tons of supplies to the Arabs in 300 flights). Asked if it was fair to say that Soviet actions have been “disruptive” of the Middle East situation, McCloskey replied, “No, I would not make that assertion.”

He said that in official channels no threats have been received from oil producing Arab countries to cut off oil to the U.S. because it is resupplying Israel with military equipment. Asked if Jordan, which has sent troops against Israel on the Syrian front, is using American equipment , McCloskey said the U.S. regretted that Jordan or any country would enter the conflict in a way that could enlarge the war. He said he was not sure there was legal recourse to prevent Jordan from using U.S. equipment. Asked if the U.S. was sending technicians to Israel, McCloskey said he didn’t know. He said the U.S. has not introduced any personnel into the fighting. Official sources said the fighting was still fluid on the Syrian front and that there was heavier combat on the Egyptian front. They said “No one can say to you today when the end will come or how the end will be achieved.”