Soviets Appear to Have Been Thwarted in Effort to Move Up Big Four Meeting

The Soviet Union appears to have been thwarted in its efforts to persuade the United States to agree to a Big Four ambassadors’ meeting before the one formally scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. By late this afternoon there was no indication that a Four Power meeting would be advanced. Observers here noted that unless a Big Four meeting is suddenly called for this evening, the United States has succeeded in “showing” the Soviet Union that it will not be pressured into any untoward move that might jeopardize the talks at this stage. The USSR supported by Britain and France, has been pressing for such an advance meeting since last Friday. Meanwhile, Secretary General Thant has not decided whether to submit another Mideast report to the Security Council before the cease-fire extension runs out Sunday.

In a related development, a United Nations spokesman confirmed that the new American ambassador, George Bush, had met with Mideast negotiator Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring since arriving at the UN on Monday. But the spokesman declined to say when they had met. Bush, who conferred with Thant yesterday morning, also saw him last night, telling newsmen afterwards that they had discussed “procedural” matters. Bush had a get-acquainted meeting today with Israeli Ambassador Yosef Tekoah, at which the latter outlined Israel’s position on a Mideast solution. (In Washington today, State Department spokesman Robert J. McCloskey declined comment on all questions pertaining to the Mideast.)