THE GROWING RISK

Until a week or so ago it seemed just possible that some progress was being made towards a negotiated settlement to end the Gulf war. Iran had edged a little closer to acceptance of the July 20 United Nations Resolution 598, which unanimously called for a ceasefire in the war, and Iraq was keeping to its suspension of air attacks on Iranian shipping and oil installations. After an inauspicious beginning, the United States' naval escort operation was working reasonably well and without, so far, untoward incident. However, there were growing signs that the uneasy truce would not last.