State Dept. Says U.S. Has No Current Information on Situation of Hostages in Jordan

A State Department official admitted today that the United States has no current information as to the whereabouts and condition of 54 hijacked airline passengers–38 of them Americans–held hostage by Arab terrorists in Jordan. Department spokesman Robert J. McCloskey Indicated that the U.S. was continuing to rely on an International Red Cross negotiating team in Amman to secure the hostages’ freedom. The IRC has apparently had no contact with the terrorists since heavy fighting broke out between them and Jordanian regulars last week. Mr. McCloskey said last Friday that information on the hostages available then was at least 36 hours old, indicating that nothing new has been heard since last Tuesday or Wednesday. Defense Secretary Melvin Laird said Friday that as far as the U.S. knew, the hostages were safe. Mr. McCloskey said that in addition to the 38 Americans among the hostages there were 350 private American citizens in Jordan and 40 official Americans, meaning Embassy personnel. He said facilities for their evacuation were ready but so far the U.S. Embassy in Amman has not recommended evacuation.

(The Syrian invasion of northern Jordan and the uncertain fate of 54 hijacked airline passengers held hostage by Arab terrorists in that country has basically altered the situation as far as Israel is concerned, informed sources said in Jerusalem today. They said the intervention of outside forces in the Jordanian fighting would affect Israel’s policy of non-intervention. Israel has so far adhered to the principle of non-interference in Jordan’s internal affairs irrespective of who is in power in that country. Deputy Premier Yigal Allon has gone on record as saying that he would “be willing to negotiate with an El Fatah government if it were in control of the country.” According to Israeli reports, a Syrian armored force captured Irbid, Jordan’s second largest city last night. Amman radio said the Syrians were attacking Irbid and that government troops were outnumbered and suffered heavy casualties. But there was no confirmation that the city had fallen. Irbid, in northern Jordan, is a guerrilla stronghold where King Hussein has been unable to exert effective authority for many months.)

Secretary of State William P. Rogers called on Syria to end its invasion of Jordan, warning that it could lead to a wider war in the Mideast. Mr. Rogers underscored U.S. concern by conveying a similar warning to the Soviet Union through diplomatic channels urging Moscow to impress on Syria the dangers of the situation. The Defense Department said today that U.S. forces in Europe and the Middle East have been alerted for the possible evacuation of American citizens from Jordan. (Official French sources warned in Paris today that the lives of 54 hostages held by Arab terrorists in Jordan would be endangered if any foreign power intervened in the civil war in that country. President Georges Pompidou, without mentioning the hostages, warned that “outside intervention is already creating and would create, a dangerous situation for world peace.” It was not clear whether his warning was aimed at potential intervention by the United States or Israel or at the reported invasion of Jordan by Syrian forces today. Foreign Minister Maurice Schumann said he did not believe the U.S. would intervene physically in the Jordanian crisis. He said he gained that impression from his recent talks with Secretary of State William P. Rogers.)

The hijackers have demanded the release of seven Arab prisoners in West Germany, Switzerland and Britain, plus an undisclosed number in Israel in exchange for the hostages. The three European countries, along with the U.S. and Israel, have been holding consultations in Berne, Switzerland for the past two weeks on means to secure the hostages’ release. Israel, which refuses to be part of any exchange deal with the commandos, attended the Berne meetings as an observer but has now apparently Joined the group as a working member. This was indicated by Israel’s signature on an appeal last week for the transfer of the captives to another country because of the heavy fighting in Jordan. West Germany’s relations with Israel have reportedly become strained and uneasy because of the latter’s refusal to contribute to a package deal with the terrorists. The Bonn government reportedly has said it would make a private arrangement with the terrorists for its nationals unless there was more progress. According to unconfirmed reports. West German diplomats in Bonn and Jerusalem have been told to expect a wave of anti-German feeling in Israel if West Germany breaks the united front.