In line with the general world trend to resolve deep differences by discussions “at the summit,” Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold was reported here today to have attempted to get Israel and Egypt together at a high level conference in Paris next week. However, according to the report here, Egypt has refused Mr. Hammarskjold’s attempted to get Israel and Egypt together at a high level conference in Paris next week. However, according to the report here, Egypt has refused Mr. Hammarskjold’s attempt to bring about face-to-face talks with Israel.
Mr. Hammarskjold is leaving for Paris Saturday in connection with his duties of organizing the conference on peaceful uses of atomic energy to be held in Geneva in August. It is understood that he was anxious to discuss the Israel-Arab conflicts with Egyptian and Israel officials “above the ambassadorial level.”
At a press conference here today Mr. Hammarskjold, while disclosing nothing about his reported high level move, did discuss the Israel-Arab conflicts and declared that there were “some hopes” in regard to that area of world tension.
“For weeks we have done whatever possible,” he said,” through Maj. Gen, E.L.M. Burns, the chief of our supervisory staff in Palestine, to improve the situation there The outlook is good, and there are some hopes but of course there are also incidents, frequent incidents which may result in the loss of a life here or a life there, but always in the loss of lives that are precious and that cannot be measured in quantitative terms.
“We are trying to reach at least a temporary solution there. We cannot let the situation slip back to where it was a couple of months ago. I assure you that from our side nothing has been left undone that can be done and that nothing will be left undone.”
In answer to another question, Mr. Hammarskjold expressed the hope that some way will be found to implement one of the recent recommendations by Gen Burns for the erection of a barbed wire at least along certain sections of the border between Israel and the Egyptian-held Gaza strip.
The Secretary General said as yet he has nothing further to report on the possible extension of Gen. Burns’ tenure beyond the June 30 expiration of the Chief of Staff’s one-year appointment.
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