The Soviet bid to send five Russian officers to Palestine members of Count Folke Bernadotte’s truce staff was overwhelmingly rejected in the Security Council today.
The formal resolution, introduced by Soviet delegate Andrei Gromyko, called for the authorization of 30 to 50 additional military observers to be sent by member nations of the Security Council apart from Syria. It was virtually ignored by the western powers as only the Soviet and Ukrainian delegations voted for it while the other nine members abstained.
At the same time, it was learned here that Count Bernadotte is approaching the governments of France, Belgium and the United States — which have already supplied 21 military observers each — to send ten more officers apiece.
ISRAELI ENVOY ACCEPTS MODIFIED PROPOSAL ON IMMIGRATION CONTROL
Earlier, the Council heard Aubrey S. Eban, the Israeli representative, accept Bernadotte’s suggestion for immigration controls providing the controls are those explicitly authorized in the mediator’s interpretation of the cease-fire resolution which formed the basis of the truce now in effect.
Bernadotte’s immigration control scheme was water down today at the suggestion of the Secretary-General Trygve Lie. As revised, the mediator’s message asked all member states of the United Nations to report on the steps they had taken to help implement the cease-fire resolution and called to their attention the immigration provisions of the truce agreement, requesting that they extend “cooperation and assistance” in carrying out truce plans. The request is also being sent to non-member states such as Italy, Albania and Rumania.
Eban also accepted Bernadotte’s request that all complaints about the truce implementation should be routed through the mediator’s officer. He acceded after Gromyko had wrung from the president, Faris al Khouri of Syria, a ruling that if any of the parties wish to approach the Council directly, that avenue would be open.
El Khouri told the Council that before the session the session today he had advised the mediator, on his own initiative, to proceed as Bernadotte had suggested in routing all complaints. Gromyko won the point, however, that “Whenever they deem it appropriate” the Jews and Arabs can appeal to the Council directly.
In a statement issued by the Israeli delegation, the continued presence of British officers in the army of King Abdullah of Transjordan was attacked. The statement pointed out that “public opinion has been given the impression that British officers have been withdrawn from the Arab Legion and returned to Amman.” It challenged Foreign Secretary ##nest Bevin to explain the presence of such officers as Brigadier Norman Lash, now revealed to be the Legion’s commander in Jerusalem.
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