J. R. Wiggins, new United States Ambassador to the United Nations, said today that Middle East peace envoy Dr. Gunnar V. Jarring is “justifiably anxious to see movement” toward peace. Mr. Wiggins told the press, after presenting his credentials to Secretary-General U Thant, that President Johnson believes that the Middle East issue and Jarring mission “are of the greatest urgency and that the time for movement is now.”
“It is inevitable that (Dr. Jarring) would not wish to protract such an exercise interminably in the absence of concrete and definite signs of progress. If those are forthcoming, he would be unlikely to drop or suspend “the mission “in mid-course,” Mr. Wiggins declared. “I hope that the (Arab and Israeli representatives) appreciate both his human and professional problems and that no opportunity Is neglected by the parties to bring about some achievement here.” he said.
He said the Middle East crisis will be a matter of utmost urgency during his tenure and that America has ‘great concern” for the success of the Jarring diplomatic efforts. Mr. Wiggins expressed the opinion that Washington’s present Middle East policy will continue regardless of who is elected President Nov. 5.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.