Reports that United Nations Emergency Force commander Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns had promised President Nasser that he would forbid UNEF troops from firing on infiltrators along the Egyptian-Israel demarcation line have been interpreted here as an indication of the collapse of a Burns plan for establishing a security zone along the border.
Gen. Burns originally came to Israel for its permission to have UNEF troops fire on infiltrators crossing from Israel into Egyptian territory. Israel immediately agreed. However, the Egyptians for their part have stalled on a reply and this new spate of reports is seen here as evidence that Nasser has refused to agree to giving UNEF troops wider authority to fire on Arab infiltrators.
Under the Burns plan, a security zone nearly half a mile wide would be set up on the Egyptian side of the line and in this area UNEF troops would have fuller police powers, including firing on unauthorized border crossings. Up to now, UNEF troops have been under orders to fire only in self-defense. An Arab killed in the Gaza border area this week-end was shot only-when a flare revealed him in the act of hurling a hand grenade at a UNEF patrol.
Meanwhile, Gen. Burns visited Jerusalem yesterday for a conference with Col. Byron Leary, acting chief of staff of the UN Truce Supervision Organization.
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