BACK ON STAGE

THE RETURN OF SAUDI ARABIA to the forefront of the diplomatic stage in the crisis in Lebanon ends any possibility of the kingdom retreating into a " 'fortress Arabia' policy. Yet the possibility was real enough when, earlier this month, the Saudi cabinet announced a 'freeze' on its efforts to mediate between the conflicting parties in Lebanon. In an accompanying statement, the cabinet noted "that its good offices have not led to the desired result and not achieved the hoped-for aspirations". The pessimistic view represented by the cabinet decision was well enough supported by the evidence of the situation in Lebanon, and no government regards the reinforcement of failure with any enthusiasm.