Israeli sources today indicated here that the Egyptian Government had advance knowledge of the shipment of the Israel cement on the Greek freighter Astypalea through the Suen Canal, and that the arrangement was made under conditions suggested by the United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold. Nevertheless, the Cairo authorities detained the ship when she reached Port Said, en route to Djibuti, (See later developments on page 2.)
The Israel Government is now maintaining a wait-and-see attitude on the incident, pending reaction from the United Nations, United States and other powers. (At the United Nations headquarters in New York silence was maintained by officials on the seizure of the Greek ship. It was understood that the UN Secretariat had been informed in advance before the Greek freighter left Haifa with its cargo of cement which was paid for by the Djibuti consignees. Also that UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold has protested to Egypt against the seizure of the vessel. Dr. Ralph Bunche, UN Undersecretary for Special Political Affairs, will be in Cairo on January 9, it was announced.)
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