A. Correspondent with Palestine Inquiry Committee Barred by Leabanon Government

The Lebanese Government today banned Gerold Frank, (##)cial Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent with the United Nations Special committee on Palestine, from entering Lebanon Sunday to cover the appearance of (##) representatives of Arab states before the Committee.

Frank was notified this morning by J.J. MacCabe, transportation officer of (##) UNSCOP group, that of all the names submitted to the Lebanese Consulate here (##) visas, his was the only one refused. About 40 were requested, including the (##)legates, alternates, secretariat, and seven United States correspondents who flew (##)th UNSCOP from New York and were specifically assigned to cover the investigation (##) its entirety, wherever it might go, including Frank.MacCabe did not ask for an (##)planation, he said, because as transportation officer he is acting in a capacity (##)ilar to a travel bureau.

However, there is no question that the ban stems from an interview obtained (##) Frank with Ignace Marbourak, Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, during last year’s (##)sit of the Anglo-American Committee to take Arab testimony in Lebanon. At that (##)me the Lebanese Government attempted to prevent the pro-Zionist views of the (##)chbishop, who represented the majority of Christians of Lebanon, from being made (##)own to Americans. As a result of the interview his testimony was finally taken (##) Dr. James G. MacDonald and Prof. William Stinespring, and was thus made part (##) the record. The Lebanese Government issued a denial of the Archbishop’s statement (##)d attempted to claim that the entire interview was faked.

U.S. OFFICIALS CONFERRING WITH LEBANESE AUTHORITIES ON BAN

MacCabe said he had earlier made it clear to the Lebanese Consulate that the {SPAN}(##){/SPAN}ited Nations was specifically facilitating the work of the seven United States correspondents covering UNSCOP. Consul-General Shehadih el Ghussein of Lebanon {SPAN}(##){/SPAN}s reported out of town today, and it was said he had left suddenly for Lebanon.

United States Consul William J. Porter said he would make inquiries as to the (##)ason for the ban, but indicated no reason would be officially forthcoming. (##)well Pinkerton, United States Minister in Lebanon, today told the correspondent (##) telephone that he would inquire of the Lebanese Government why the visa was re(##)sed. Meanwhile, the entire situation grew more complex with the revelation that (##)x Jewish reporters representing the Hebrew press here had been refused visas for Lebanon without reason.

(A spokesman for the U.N. Secretariat told the J.T.A. today that although a (##)rotest from the Palestine Journalists Association against the Lebanese action had (##)ot yet been received officially, the U.N. position was that all correspondents (##)credited to a U.N. body should be allowed to cover the activities of the group (##)herever it went. He cited the precedent of the Balkan investigating commission. (##)ueried as to what action the U.N. might take, he said that it usually preferred to (##)ave such matters handled on the spot by members of the secretariat; in this case, Dr. Victor Hoo, or another secretariat official.)