Vance Begins Mideast Trip, Visits Hussein

AMAN, Jordan--Secretary of State Cyrus E. Vance met with Jordan's King Hussein yesterday, beginning a diplomatic effort to gain Jordanian and Saudi Arabian acceptance of the Camp David agreements.

Vance met with Hussein shortly after arriving here and was said to have applied strong pressure on the King, telling him that opposition to the plan could damage U.S.-Jordanian relations. Hussein relies heavily on U.S. military and economic assistance.

Vance reportedly also told Hussein it was in his best interest to participate in the negotiations called for in the agreements because of Jordan's proximity to the Palestinian entity that may emerge as a result of talk about the West Bank.

Heavy Influence

Observers in the U.S. have noted that Jordan could have a strong influence on the makeup of the Palestinian presence on the West Bank if it accepts the invitation to join the peace talks.

Jordan has said it would not be bound by the agreements, while Saudi Arabia has said the terms 'could not be considered as an acceptable "final formula for peace."

Vance also is scheduled to meet with three other Arab leaders--King Khaled and Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia on Thursday and Friday in Riyadh, and President Hafez Assad of Syria in Damascus on Saturday.

Vance said earlier this week that his mission aimed at explaining to the "key Arab governments not represented at Camp David ... the contents, purpose and philosophy of the understandings reached ... so they can make their own decisions on how to respond to the invitations to them contained in the basic documents."

Hussein is presently under pressure from the "Rejectionist Front"--made up of Syria, Libya, Algeria, South Yemen and the Palestinian Liberation Organization--to oppose the agreements.

The framework for peace in the Middle East, signed last week by President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menacham Begin of Israel, calls for, among other things, a five-year transition period in the West Bank and Sinai, leading to full autonomy for the predominantly Arab inhabitants. Other provisions include Israel's promise not to establish any new settlements during the negotiations, and the right of inhabitants of the West Bank and the Sinai to elect representatives to the peace negotiations.