U Thant Reports Plan to Double Number of Suez Observation Posts and Observers

Secretary-General U Thant reported to the Security Council today on measures proposed, in consultation with Lt. General Odd Bull, to strengthen the U.N. true observation machinery in the Suez Canal area. At the same time, Mr. Thant reiterated in the most urgent terms his appeal of September 27 to both Israel and Egypt to exercise utmost restraint and, “in case of any alleged violations of the cease fire” to “make use of the U.N. observation system and not resort directly to violence.”

The Secretary-General said that after consulting with General Bull, chief of the U.N. cease-fire observers corps in the Middle East, it was decided to increase the number of observation posts from 9 to 18 and the number of observers from 45 to 90, “to be allotted equally on both sides of the Canal.” This action, he said, would “substantially reduce the gaps in the area where on recent occasions repeated exchanges of fire have been reported.” The actual location of the new observation posts, he said, would have to take into consideration the deployment of Israeli and UAR forces.

Mr. Thant said that the observers’ corps will acquire patrol craft of the same type as the pilot launches used by the Suez Canal Authority which would be painted white would be manned exclusively by U.N. personnel and would be limited in their operations to the closed waters of the canal, the Bitter Lakes and adjacent waters. The task of the patrol craft, he said would be “to facilitate U.N. observation in the waters concerned of any activities likely to cause a breach of the cease fire, to provide sea rescue facilities and to support the exchange of prisoners of war, refugees, etc.” He stressed that the craft “must have full freedom of movement at all times and freedom of communications with the U.N. control centers.”

In addition, Mr. Thants report said, “It is intended to acquire four suitable helicopters with operational and ground crews to provide aerial observation in the canal sector, to increase the mobility of observers and, if necessary to provide medical evacuation.” He stressed again that in order to operate effectively, the helicopters must have full freedom of movement in the area of observation. He said they would be based ” in suitable locations to be determined.”

Mr. Thant said it was “highly desirable that cross canal communications be established between observation posts and that the use of coded messages be allowed wherever required between both control centers in the canal zone and U.N. headquarters in Jerusalem. Egypt has so far not permitted U.N. posts on the west bank of the canal to communicate directly with posts on the Israel-occupied east bank.