Mccloskey Says U.S. Has Been in Contact with Soviet Union over Cease-fire Violations

The State Department disclosed today that the United States has been “in contact” with Soviet Russia over alleged violations of the standstill cease-fire by Egypt, Department spokesman Robert J. McCloskey told newsmen that the contacts were at different times and at different levels, the most recent having been about a week or ten days ago. He said U.S. Ambassador Jacob Beam in Moscow had discussed the alleged violations with a Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister on one occasion. He said Ambassador Beam has not requested a meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei F. Gromyko on the issue. He said it was possible that an American statement on the cease-fire violations would be issued in a few days. Mr. McCloskey declined to comment on yesterday’s meeting of President Nixon and his top foreign policy advisors on the Middle East situation at San Clemente. He refused to comment on press reports that the U.S. now accepts Israel’s reports of continuing truce violation and that it has concrete evidence that the charges are correct. He said he was in no position to discuss the quality of the evidence.

Mr. McCloskey said he did not know when the peace talks under United Nations envoy Gunnar Jarring would resume in New York and that he did not know Israel’s plans. He said Assistant Secretary of State Joseph J. Sisco might meet with Israeli Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin today. He said Mr. Sisco was not scheduled to meet with Russian or Egyptian representatives today. Asked to characterize the Mideast situation generally, the State Department official said, “To say the obvious, it is a delicate period… We are interested in seeing the cease-fire standstill maintained and the political talks pursued. Our entire effort has been to act as responsibly as we can in all circumstances. It has been our objective throughout to work through private governmental channels to exert every effort to see that the terms of the cease-fire are adhered to.” Asked if he would agree that quiet diplomacy was not working well. Mr. McCloskey said he wouldn’t.