Acting U.N. Palestine Mediator Dr. Ralph Bunche, in a message to the president of the Security Council from U.N. headquarters in Rhodes, today expressed concern over the “increasingly serious situation in Palestine, “particularly as regards the authority, prestige and personal safety of the U.N. observers.
In his cable, Bunche cited the “disturbing tendency” of Jews and Arabs alike to place restrictions on the movement of U.N. observers into ports, strategic areas and airports. The cable said that both the Israelis and Arabs insist on 24-hour advance notice prior to the arrival of United Nations aircraft. The acting mediator also blamed field commanders on both sides for not carrying out agreements reached on higher levels. In addition to Count Folks Bernadotte, Bunche reported, six U.N. observers have been killed and seven wounded.
Bunche charged the authorities on both sides with making little effort towards apprehending and punishing those guilty of truce violations. His message stated that both the Israelis and Arabs are “flouting the Security Council’s orders” to cooperate with the mediator to keep the peace in Palestine.
SHERTOK ARRIVES IN PARIS; MAY REMAIN FOR U.N. DISCUSSIONS ON PALESTINE
Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok arrived here today and was welcomed by members of the Israeli delegation to the United Nations. He is expected to remain here at least two weeks. It is also possible that he may stay longer and personally represent Israel during the U.N. discussions of the Bernadotte report.
(The New York Times reported today that Secretary of State Marshall’s endorsement of the late U.N. mediator’s recommendations for Palestine was issued without prior consultation with John Foster Dulles, or other leading members of the American delegation to the General Assembly. As a result, it is understood neither Mr. Dulles, who is expected to become Secretary of State in the event of a Republican victory in November, nor Gov. Thomas E. Dewey, is bound to support the Bernadotte report as part of the bi-partisan policy that the U.S. is following at the U.N., the report said.)
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