An Israel convoy to Mount Scopus which had been delayed two weeks because of Jordanian objections was permitted passage today at the Mandelbaum Gate checkpoint after some last-minute hitches were settled on the spot.
The convoy supplies to the Israel enclave in Jordan-held territory included the gasoline to which Jordan had objected on grounds that the fuel was to be used in alleged fortification building by Israel on Mount Scopus.
The deadlock over the convoy and Jordanian demands for the ousting of Col. Byron V. Leary, acting Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervisory Organization, brought UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold on a hurried visit to the Middle East which led to a Jordan agreement to permit passage of the convoy.
After the nine barrels of gasoline were inspected, it was found that two barrels were leaking which were replaced and again inspected. The inspection was carried out by UN officials while Jordanian officers stood by.
UN sources here first denied then admitted Arab press reports this morning that Lt. Col. George Flint, chairman of the Israel-Jordan Mixed Armistice Commission, had carried out an inspection of Mt. Scopus as had been demanded by Jordan as one of its conditions for allowing convoy passage.
The Jordan press this morning said that Mr. Hammarskjold’s flying visit to King Hussein between talks with Mr. Ben Gurion was for the purpose of conveying to the King Israel’s agreement to permitting UN inspection of Mt. Scopus, provided the inspection includes both the Israel and Jordanian sectors. The Arab press also insisted that Jordan was continuing its opposition to Col. Leary, who was charged with favoritism toward Israel in the Mt. Scopus stalemate.
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.
