United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold returned today from his “peace mission” to the Middle East apparently satisfied with his achievements in securing unconditional cease-fire pledges from Israel and the neighboring Arab countries. He emphasized, however, that “only the future can show what, thanks to the goodwill of the governments concerned, may grow out of it.”
Mr. Hammarskjold, who was met at the airport by members of the United Nations Security Council, may return to the Middle East in June to continue further negotiations with the Arab countries and Israel in an attempt to reinforce the gains of his present four week trip and to make a start on settling the broader issues of the Arab-Israel conflict. These issues include the Egyptian blockade of the Suez Canal against Israel shipping, demarcation of permanent frontiers, the Jordan River development which Israel wishes to start but which the Arabs oppose, and the Arab refugee question.
Mr. Hammarskjold’s full report of the results of his negotiations with the Arab countries and Israel is expected to be released by the Security Council Wednesday. The statement which he issued upon his arrival today was brief and limited itself to pointing out the role of the United Nations in helping member governments maintain peace. It read as follows:
“The assignment from which I return is so far unique in the development of the United Nations. It is for others to evaluate the result, and only the future can show what, thanks to the goodwill of the governments concerned, may grow out of it. However–and that I want to stress–the assignment has shown that the United Nations can be directly helpful to member governments in their wish to re-establish order and maintain peace; helpful, not by imposing its will, but by bringing out what is common ground for agreement to the parties in a conflict and crystallizing it in a way which gives the governments a firm point from which they can move forward.”
In addition to members of the Security Council, Mr. Hammarskjold was greeted at the airport by Dr. Jacob Robinson, member of the Israeli delegation at the United Nations, as well as by representatives of Syria and Egypt. He left the airport for UN headquarters where it was announced that he would begin conferring with members of the Security Council and the “interested parties”–meaning Israel and the Arab delegations–at once.
Security Council president Dr. Joza Brilej, in a statement today, said: “The results which the Secretary General has so far been able to report with regard to the accomplishment of his mission are encouraging indeed. The most important achievement of the mission so far has been the unconditional pledge of the parties to the United Nations to observe the cease-fire clauses of the general armistice agreements. An essential step has thus been made toward peace and security in the Middle East. This should augur well for the future.”
James J. Wadsworth deputy chairman of the United States delegation at the United Nations, said that Mr. Hammarskjold was not expected to perform miracles on his mission, but “his successful negotiations do testify both to his own ability and persistence, and to the cooperation of the parties in agreeing on practical steps to relieve tensions.” Similar statement were made by the representatives of Britain and France at the United Nations.
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