Jewish, Arab Legion Troops in Jerusalem Celebrate Conclusion of Cease-fire Agreement

Jewish and Arab Legion troops in the Jerusalem today celebrated in their respective positions the signing yesterday of a cease order by Israeli and Legion commanders, an Israeli communique stated. It added the order gave hope to the troops that a permanent pact would be reached soon.

The Israeli announcement revealed that since the meeting between the commanders last Sunday, Legion troops in the vicinity of the Notre Dame Hospice have made friendly advances to the Jewish soldiers opposite their positions.

The cease-fire went into effect here early this morning. It was signed by Col. Moshe Dayan, Israeli commander, and Lt. Col. Abdullah el Tel, ranking officer of the Transjordan forces. They met in the former Government House in the demilitarized area in the southern part of the city in the presence of and at the behest of U.N. truce personnel.

The pact, greeted by U.N. observers as “complete and sincere” clearly defines the present positions of both sides and provides for freedom of movement behind the lines. An additional accord providing for a regular system of dispatching food convoys to troops on guard duty on Mt. Scopus and for an exchange of such security personnel was also signed, but other questions were left for subsequent meetings between the commanders and their staffs.

Twenty-three Israeli soldiers, taken prisoner by the Arab Legion in the Old City last May 28, were today released to Jewish forces in no-man’s land in the Latrun area. The Jews, overjoyed at being back among their comrades and at being on Israeli soil for the first time, expressed their gratitude for food parcels and other supplies sent them by the Israeli authorities through the prisoner exchange service. They described their treatment at the hands of the Legion as “good.”