The United Arab Republic’s so-called “War Spoils Court” ordered this week-end the confiscation of cargoes taken by the United Arab Republic from a West German ship and a Liberian freighter which were carrying the freight through the Suez Canal from Haifa, Israel, to destinations in the Orient. The seizures took place late in February and early in March, and have been vigorously protested by Israel in a letter to the United Nations Security Council.
The decision to “legalize” the cargo confiscations through a ruling by Egypt’s quasi-judicial court is seen here as an effort by the UAR to foreclose the issue before the arrival of United Nations Undersecretary Ralph J. Bunche. The latter is on his way to Cairo as personal representative of Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, and is reportedly scheduled to demand the release of the cargoes.
(At United Nations headquarters in New York, Jacob Blaustein, noted Jewish leader, met this week-end with UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, and discussed with him the seizure by Egypt of Israeli cargoes at the Suez Canal. The two also discussed other matters concerning the Middle East.)
The ruling by the so-called “War Spoils Court” does not alter the situation in the least, according to political observers here. The latter point out that the very seizure of the cargoes, prior to their confiscation, was a violation of international law.
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