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TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 3: ROGERS: (INDISTINCT)...deciding event in the Middle East led President Nixon on April 29th to order a thorough review of all political and military aspects of the problem. That review has now been concluded. The consequence of the review, the United States has undertaken a political initiative, a major political initiative, the objective of which is to encourage the parties to stop shooting and start talking under the auspices of (INDISTINCT) Jarring and in accordance with the security council. Our objective in launching this initiative has been to encourage the parties to move toward a just and lasting peace which states fully the new account, the legitimate aspirations and concerns of all governments and of all people in the area. In light of that objective we believe it would not be useful particularly because of the sensitive nature of the discussions now underway....the diplomatic discussions now underway to disclose at this time the details of the political initiative or to discuss publicly military assistance for Israel. We firmly believe that this is just the time for such an initiative which we have launched directly with the parties and with other interested powers.




Initials DC/MR/OS


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Background: In a Washington press conference today (June 25) United States Secretary of State Mr. William Rogers made an urgent plea to Israel and the Arab states to stop shooting and start talking about a Middle East settlement.

Mr. Rogers disclosed his Government's next moves for easing the Middle East crisis with the launching of new political and diplomatic initiatives to be held under the auspices of United Nations envoy Dr. Gunnar Jarring, Sweden's Moscow ambassador. The new initiative is in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution of November 1967 which called for a peaceful settlement.

Mr. Rogers remained silent on the peace plan but it is believed in the Middle East that the plan will call for a demilitarised buffer zone for 12 miles on either side of the Suez canal and Israel will be asked to withdraw from Arab territories occupied in the June 1967 war.