President Eisenhower has been kept informed of the latest Israel-Egyptian developments in a special summary prepared for him by the State Department, it was revealed here today by government sources who said the President had read the summary in his hospital room at Denver.
In a special statement on the Israel-Egyptian situation issued yesterday after Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East George V. Allen had met separately with the Israel and Egyptian Ambassadors to Washington, the State Department expressed its “deep concern” over the “increasing tempo of hostilities between Israel and Egypt,” and charged both states with violations of the general armistice agreement. Ambassadors Abba Eban and Dr. Ahmed Hussein were summoned by Mr. Allen to the State Department to hear parallel statements of the United States view of the current situation. They were each asked for their government’s intentions regarding these developments.
The Department’s statement said: “According to our information there have been violations of the general armistice agreement by both Israel and Egypt which have led to bloodshed and loss of life. The United States deplores resort to force for the settlement of disputes.” It was pointed out that “the Secretary General of the United Nations and General E. L. M. Burns have put forward proposals to Israel and Egypt which are designed to ease the present situation along their common border.
“The United States strongly supports the United Nations efforts to achieve settlement by peaceful means, especially the current proposals of General Burn, who is Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization,” the statement continued. Dag Hammarskjold made proposals to Israel and Egypt last week, which although not published, are believed to include evacuation of the Nitzana — El Auja — demilitarized area by both states and non-interference with UN observers, as well as clearer marking of the borders.
(In London this week-end Anthony Nutting, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, expressed Britain’s “anxiety” over the situation along the Nit zana– El Auja –border in separate interviews with Ambassador Eliahu Elath of Israel and Ambassador Sami Abdul Ftouh. He urged that both Israel and Egypt adopt a policy of “restraint” and cooperate with UN truce chief Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns.)
The State Department said reports had been received that UN observers “have been prevented from carrying out their assigned functions. The United States continues to believe that these United Nations observers should have full liberty to perform their peaceful functions.”
Ambassador Eban indicated to reporters after meeting with Mr. Allen that he had informed Mr. Allen of Israel’s “great concern” over “the spectacle of Egyptian troops advancing beyond the demarcation line and entrenching themselves in Israel territory,” which he said, were “more like an invasion” than previous encroachments by Egypt. He gave Allen assurances that if Egyptian forces remained on their side of the frontier they could have “complete tranquility.” But he added “if they go beyond it they don’t deserve it.” Mr. Eban said Israel would study in a “constructive spirit” the proposals by Gen. Burns and Mr. Hammarskjold. Mr. Eban said he did not submit to Mr. Allen a list of defensive arms that Israel wishes to purchase.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
