‘I’m Smiling,’ Shultz Says of Hussein Talk

Secretary of State George P. Shultz today renewed the U.S. drive to open Arab-Israeli peace talks in a meeting with Jordan’s King Hussein, and then flew back to the Middle East for more meetings, telling reporters, “I’m smiling.”

Shultz spent just four hours in London before flying to Israel in the evening. On Friday, he is to meet Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, then embark on quick flights to Syria and Egypt for more talks.

Reporters asked Shultz after his 90-minute meeting with Hussein whether progress had been made, and he replied, “I’m smiling.” He made no further comment. The Jordanian Embassy was closed, and no Jordanian comment was immediately available.

Back for More Talks

President Reagan, in Brussels for a NATO summit, announced Wednesday that he was sending Shultz for more talks with Middle East leaders to try to find a formula for negotiations between the Arabs and Israelis.

So Shultz returned to the shuttle that earlier in the week had him bouncing around Middle East capitals and to London to see Hussein, who is reportedly in Britain for dental treatment.

The U.S. proposal seeks to defuse the explosive situation in the Israeli-held West Bank and Gaza Strip by opening talks soon on how the 1.5 million Palestinians in the occupied territories could control their daily affairs.

According to the U.S. plan, the Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians would open negotiations in December on an overall peace settlement.

PLO Participation

Progress is difficult because of issues such as whether the Palestine Liberation Organization should represent the Palestinians at the talks.

Shultz told a news conference in Brussels that the United States still opposes PLO participation and would not negotiate with the PLO.

“We don’t talk to the PLO or deal with the PLO as long as they don’t . . . basically state their readiness to deal with the state of Israel as a fact of life that’s going to be there, and as long as they don’t renounce terrorism and violence. Those are the conditions,” he said.

Shultz is expected to return to Washington on Saturday after his swing through the Middle East.