Signature of the Israel-Jordan local commanders agreement for measures designed to reduce tension in the Jerusalem area was postponed indefinitely today upon the Jordan pretext that it would not sign the agreement unless UN truce chief Gen. E.L.M. Burns was an equal party to the fact.
Gen. Burns, who told the Jordanians that the UN “can take care of itself,” telephoned the Jordan Defense Minister in Amman in an attempt to get Jordanian signature of the pact. He apparently believed that the agreed-upon text adequately covered the Jordanian objection. A similar objection delayed signing of the pact once before.
The Israel delegation to the scheduled signing ceremony today–Jerusalem area military commander Col. Chaim Herzog and his aide, Lt. Col. Shaul Ramati–agreed to the Jordanian demand and offered to include that the pact was “witnessed by General Burns.” The Jordanians refused to accept this concession and remained adamant, despite all of Gen. Burns’ efforts.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
