Cairo Evades Discussion of U.N. Plan for Israel-syrian Pacification

The United Arab Republic has once more snubbed the United Nations. Maj. Gen. Carl C. von Horn, chief of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, who has been trying for many weeks to discuss with leaders of the U. A. R. a new Israel-Syrian pacification plan proposed recently by Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, has returned to his headquarters here from Cairo–after seeing only a Foreign Ministry functionary.

When Mr. Hammarskjold last visited the Middle East, he proposed to Israel’s Prime Minister David Ben Gurion a plan for a new study of Israeli-Syrian tensions, to be conducted on his behalf by Gen. von Horn. The latter subsequently discussed the plan with Mr. Ben Gurion, and has been attempting to arrange a meeting on the subject with President Gamal Abdel Nasser of the U. A. R.

Last week, Gen. von Horn went to Cairo, apparently assured that he would meet with Col. Nasser. The latter left for a Damascus. Gen. von Horn could not even see Foreign Minister Mahmoud Fawzi, whose office reported to the UN official that Mr. Fawzi was “ill.” Finally, Gen. von Horn did get to see somebody in the Foreign Office, Col. Hassan Salah el-din Gohar, a civil servant in charge of the UAR’s armistice and Palestine affairs.

While United Nations officials, never talk of the issue, it is well known that, for years, they have been miffed by the manner in which the U.A.R. government refuses to deal with its ranking officials. Col. Nasser and Dr. Fawzi often promise Mr. Hammarskjold personally that they are willing to discuss various proposals concerning relations with Israel. But unless the Secretary General takes up these matters personally, the talks are always stymied if attempted by any of Mr. Hammarskjold’s representatives.