Security Council Wrestles with Agenda on Israel-jordan Issue

The United Nations Security Council today met for the fourth time on the question of whether to consider Israeli and Jordanian charges separately or review the Palestine situation as a whole.

The meeting was adjourned until Monday after Sir Pierson Dixon, British representative, suggested that a new item be added to the agenda urging “compliance with and enforcement of the general armistice agreement between Israel and Jordan.”

The representative of Turkey pointed out that time should be given the delegations to consult with their governments, whereupon Sir Pierson introduced a motion to adjourn. The term of Soviet delegate Andrei Vishinsky as president of the Security Council ends this Friday. The Council president for May will be Sir Pierson.

Lebanese delegate Dr. Charles Malik, who speaks for the Arab states at the Security Council, insisted that his complaint against Israel over the incident at the Jordanian village of Nahalin should be treated by the Council as “a case which is in a class by itself.” He emphasized that unless this is done, he will “find it difficult” to accept the British suggestion which is apparently being supported by all the Western Powers.

French delegate Henri Hoppenot said his delegation felt the item proposed by Britain should be discussed first, as it covered the whole of the questions dealt with in items now on the provisional agenda. He shared the view of the Lebanese delegate regarding the “serious nature” of the Nahalin incident. If the British item should be placed first on the agenda, as he hoped it would be, nothing would prevent any speaker from giving the Nahalin incident all the importance due to it, he said. The Israel delegation is not in a position to express its views at the Council as long as the meeting deals with matters of procedure.