My recent visit to the Middle East and my discussions with political. business. and public opinion leaders there and also at the prior Ditchley House Conference in England led me to the conclusion that a failure to negotiate now would have serious consequences not only for the parties but for the United States. Therefore. the news that the extreme positions of the antagonists had been modified came as an encouraging and hopeful development. With the objections to the form of the prospective meeting removed. it seems quite probable that progress can now be made toward a discussion of the substantive matters in argument: refugees. firm boundaries and free passage of the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aqaba. Although no real progress on the main issues can be claimed at this time. the fact is that the logjam blocking discussions has been broken and real movement is now possible toward a permanent arrangement that will provide a greater guarantee of permanent peace in that area. We must recognizc. of course. that the obstacles to complete agreement on all subjects are very great.
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refugees