British Foreign Office Calls in Soviet Envoy for Talks Aimed at Big Four Resumption

The British Foreign Office today summoned the Soviet Ambassador to Britain for discussions aimed at resuming Big Four talks on the Middle East, which have been stalled since last summer, it was reported here today. The Foreign Office announced the talks between Michael Sminovski, the Soviet envoy, and Evan Luard, parliamentary undersecretary of the Foreign Office.

(Meanwhile, in Moscow the Soviet Government and six Warsaw Pact allies today demanded immediate but unspecified steps to force Israel out of the occupied territories. The Soviet statement was regarded as one of the strongest in recent months by diplomatic sources.)

The meeting in London contrasted with the belief of Joseph J. Sisco, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, that the Soviet Government was no longer willing to play an “actively constructive role” in promoting a peace settlement. His remarks were prepared for testimony before a hearing of the foreign operations sub-committee of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Speaking of Big Four and American-Soviet bilateral efforts aimed at a settlement, Mr. Sisco declared: “Some progress has been achieved, but fundamental differences remain. Moreover, the attitude of the Soviet Government in the bilateral talks and in its public expressions raises doubts regarding its willingness to play an actively constructive role on behalf of peace in the Middle East.”

(The New York Times reported today that American officials “are now conceding that the two-powers talks…are in danger of collapsing.” Mr. Sisco and Soviet Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly F. Dobrynin, have not met for nearly a month. At the last meeting, the U.S. presented proposals that altered the U.S. position in favor of the Arab one, but to date no reply has been received from Moscow. The Egyptian Government has denounced the American position, apparently stalling Moscow action in response to Washington.)

Diplomatic analysts have said that before the Big Four resume their talks, the Big Two must reach some form of agreement. But now there has been a feeling growing in Britain and France–the other Big Power parties–that the top level consultations must resume, and both have accordingly been pressuring Washington to agree.