The Israeli-Trans Jordan armistice negotiations are not expected to begin until Thursday, it was learned here today. Meanwhile, acting mediator Ralph J. Bunche is preparing an agenda for the talks, which may be ready tomorrow. ,p/>The reason for the latest delay is two-fold: the Trans Jordanian delegation seems to be confused as to the nature of the talk; and, the Israeli delegation cannot get down to really serious discussions until the arrival of Shabtai Rosenne, Foreign Office legal aide, who is now on the Israeli-Lebanese border participating in the armistice negotiations there, and who is expected here Thursday. The Trans Jordanians came here apparently under instructions to raise the question of Palestine Arab refugees as the first point on the agenda. The Israelis, however, have indicated that the question of the refugees will not be considered at armistice talks, but only at peace conferences.
Even before the armistice sessions opened, the Trans Jordanians today complained to Dr. Bunche of an alleged movement of Israeli forces heading in the direction of Aqaba. According to the Arabs, an Arab Legion patrol encountered a convoy of nine Israeli armored vehicles and several Jeeps en route to Wadi Araba, some 30 miles north of Eilat. After receiving the complaint, Dr. Bunche ordered U.N. truce observers to investigate the report. (In Tel Aviv, meanwhile, an Israeli military spokesman denied the report, declaring that he could “not imagine what inspired such a report, unless was intended to influence the armistice talks at Rhodes,”)
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