Something’s Happening

A flurry of activity around the Bosnia peace talks raised hopes Friday an agreement was near to end the savage ethnic war. Word at the Pentagon was that a deal could be initialed by Monday if negotiators agree on giving Serbs access to the Adriatic Sea.

Showing an awareness of the long, troubled history of the Balkans, the White House took a cautious approach, saying difficult issues remained and there was no guarantee of success.

However, sudden trips by national security adviser Anthony Lake and Defense Secretary William Perry to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base outside Dayton appeared to signal that something was happening in the negotiations there among Muslims, Serbs and Croats.

Cutting short a visit to Japan, Secretary of State Warren Christopher arrived in Dayton late Friday afternoon. He planned to meet with all the parties Saturday.