‘Slippage’ in Persian Gulf Plan Cited : But 1st Ships Could Be Escorted Next Week: Fitzwater

President Reagan’s spokesman said today that there has been “some slippage” in plans to provide U.S. protection for Kuwaiti oil tankers in the Persian Gulf but that the first ships could be under escort “as early as next week.”

Marlin Fitzwater said the United Nations is likely to call for a cease-fire in the Iran-Iraq war before the Navy escort begins, but he denied that diplomacy was delaying the escort plan.

“All plans are on track,” he said, although the White House is not prepared to give a date for the escort duty to begin.

“The timetable, as it turns out, could be such that a (U.N.) resolution would pass before the first ships sail, Fitzwater said. He said there are indications that the United Nations will meet “on Wednesday or Thursday--perhaps the first of next week at the latest.”

Resolution Needed

“If we had a resolution within that time, it probably would be before the first ships sail,” he said.

“We do expect the reflagging to proceed as planned.”

Asked about earlier Administration predictions that the reflagging would go forward in mid-July, Fitzwater said the action was to occur “a few days either way.”

Fitzwater acknowledged that while there has been some delay, it has been due to several factors, including “some new commitments from the United Arab Emirates.”

The spokesman would not define the commitments, saying: “There have been a number of pieces to this that have fallen into place over the last month or two.

“It’s been our feeling to escort when we’re ready to escort and to make sure that all of the diplomatic and military preparations have been taken . . . so that has caused some slippage in the original schedule.”

Cease-Fire Request

The United States has asked the U.N. Security Council to pass a resolution urging a gulf cease-fire, a withdrawal by the warring parties to internationally recognized borders, and an exchange of prisoners.

President Reagan has directed Secretary of State George P. Shultz to spearhead the diplomatic effort, and Shultz planned to travel to New York for the U.N. deliberations.

Fitzwater said Reagan today told Republican congressional leaders that he expected passage of the U.N. resolution soon.