WASHINGTON: US Defence Secretary James Schlesinger today [Jan 7] threatened use of force against the Arab countries if they `insisted` on continuing the oil embargo. The American threat came as Arab oil Ministers met in Geneva to appraise oil prices. ... Meanwhile, the US Energy Chief, Mr William Simon, said yesterday the US wanted the Arabs to reduce oil prices. ...

Mr Schlesinger threatened in a television speech ... `The Arabs should beware of the possible consequences of the (oil) embargo.

They should recognise that theindependent powers of sovereign States should not be used in such a way as would cripple the larger mass of the industrialised world. That ... is a source of danger ... not only from our standpoint, but from the standpoint of the oil producing nations.

He said the `African` people might cry for military intervention in the Middle East to force the Arab States to resume fuel deliveries.

[He] claimed that the US `is dedicated to the independence of the free States and that includes the States in the Middle East.` Mr Schlesinger said the recent alleviation of Arab pressure was `an indication that the oil-producing States recognise their common interests with the industrialised world.`News agencies