Washington Sees Hussein’s Line Tougher After Egyptian Move at United Nations

King Hussein’s statements to President Johnson on Wednesday remained secret today, but official sources disclosed that the Jordanian monarch’s stand had hardened during the course of his visit. It was learned that, when Hussein met with Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Monday, he failed to repeat his Sunday television offer of Arab concessions to Israel. The change was attributed to the Egyptian response to Hussein’s “moderation.” Officials said that, after Cairo called for an urgent session of the United Nations Security Council, it became apparent that the king was taking a tougher line.

The king demonstrated a “genuine desire for peace” in a private meeting with members of the Senate Wednesday, it was said today by Sen. Stuart Symington, chairman of the Near Eastern Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Sen. Symington said Hussein provided an outline of Jordanian peace proposals “in broad strokes.” Mr. Symington said the subject of resumption of U.S. arms supplies for Jordan was discussed, but the King indicated this subject had a “low priority” on his Washington agenda.

The Senate today heard a warning against a U.N. move that might jeopardize Israel by requiring a formula of prior Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and a mere promise of subsequent negotiations. The warning was voiced by Sen. Jacob K. Javits, New York Republican, who cautioned against new trends at the United Nations. He said that “above all, we must not again be embarrassed by a formula like that of 1956-1957. This proved to be a formula for disappointment and war.” He said that there was “potentially mischievous ambiguity” in the U.S. draft resolution at the U.N. Security Council.