Hammarskjold Denies Influencing Workers to End Ban on Egyptian Ships

Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold today denied reports he had intervened with the Scandinavian Transport Workers Federation toward the federation’s decision to lift the Swedish maritime workers’ boycott of United Arab Republic shipping in Scandinavian ports.

(The Swedish Transport Workers Federation yesterday decided to end its ban which has been in effect since April 7. The decision followed a recommendation from the Scandinavian Transport Workers Federation, Reuters News Agency reported. Reuters also reported from Stockholm that the Scandinavian Transport Workers Federation “had discussed with the United Nations Secretary General the question of Scandinavian ships that have been interfered with in the Suez Canal on the way to or from Israel.”)

Replying angrily at a general news conference here today to a question on the reports of his alleged intervention, Mr. Hammarskjold said: “To my knowledge, I haven’t said anything directly or indirectly that can be construed in that manner. He added that he had no exchange of views with the Scandinavian federation “but they have sent over their resolutions and so on and so forth.”

“I needn’t tell you though,” he said, “that I do not intervene in trade union policies which are internal matters.” The “very idea” of such intervention by him, he said sharply, “is stupid.” Outside the news conference, Mr. Hammarskjold seemed so excited about the report that he used language unusual for him by calling the report “a damn lie.”

Mr. Hammarskjold was also asked what the United Nations was doing at present about its “continuing responsibility” in regard to freedom of navigation for Israeli goods and shipping through the Suez Canal. He replied that “it does not make sense to give a day-to-day or week-to-week report” about what he was doing in regard to the Suez Canal issue in general. He recalled that, two weeks ago, he made a statement on that issue and said that he stands on that statement.

In his statement on the Suez issue two weeks ago, Mr. Hammarskjold said he considered it his “duty to make unrelenting efforts to improve the situation,” and that “such efforts will be pursued by the United Nations.” It was in that statement that Mr. Hammarskjold criticized the United Arab Republic by saying that the UAR’s detention of the Greek ship Astypalea had been “against the principle upheld by the United Nations.”