Egypt Tells United Nations Israel Made ‘sneak Attack’ in Canal Area

Egypt complained today to the president of the Security Council that, as a result of Israel’s “sneak attack to force the passage of three of her boats through the Suez Canal at the Suez entrance.” on Monday, 42 civilians were killed, 161 wounded, of whom 14 were in serious condition, and 30 buildings were destroyed, as well as two mosques and two hospitals.

In a letter to the president of the Security Council, the Ambassador, Mohammed El Kony said that, as a result of Israel’s shelling, a Greek freighter with a cargo of cement, a dredger belonging to the Suez Canal Authority and a motorboat belonging to the Eastern Petroleum Company, had been sunk. In addition to that, an Indian ship was damaged and the tower of Port Tewfiq was demolished.

The Egyptian complaint, which did not request a meeting of the Security Council, said that Israel’s “latest actions demonstrate their aggressive designs, in flagrant violation of the cease-fire resolution of the Security Council.”

The Egyptian complaint disregarded a report by Lt. Gen. Odd Bull, head of the United Nations cease-fire observers, which pinned responsibility for Monday’s clash on the Egyptian forces. Gen. Bull cabled U.N. headquarters yesterday that Egyptian forces had fired the first shot.

FRENCH ENVOY SEES LONG DELAY IN FINDING MIDDLE EAST SOLUTION

Ambassador Armand Berard, new permanent representative to the United Nations, told a press conference today that “France hopes for a peaceful solution” to the Arab-Israeli problem but expected that “it will take a long time to achieve a satisfactory solution.” He stressed that France, as a Mediterranean power, was interested in a peaceful settlement.

(A British military spokesman at Aden announced that British pilots will deliver three Hawker-Hunter jet fighter planes to the Jordanian Air Force tomorrow.)