Last week the synthesis of Washington's thinking on the questions leading up to a long-range settlement in the Middle East was going like this:
What is the next move? First, confirm peace. Work through the United Nations to get the British, the French and the Israelis out of the Suez and the Sinai Peninsula. Then clear the Suez Canal and get oil flowing as soon as possible to Western Europe.
How should the Suez Canal he cleared? The job of removing the 47 sunken ships should be done under U.N. auspices. Danish and Norwegian salvage companies have already been contracted, and parts of...