The Soviet bloc attacked the United Nations Emergency Force today as a group established “in violation of the United Nations Charter,” and insisted that Israel, Brita in and France must finance UNEF because they were the “aggressors” against Egypt in the 1956 Suez-Sinai campaigns which resulted in establishing the force in the Gaza Strip and in the Sinai Desert.
(Israel marked the second anniversary of the launching of the Sinai campaign yesterday. A feature of the observance was a display in Tel Aviv of the latest tanks and armored vehicles in use in the Israel army. The day was also set aside as “Armor Day.”)
The sharpest attack against UNEF came today from Arkady A. Sobolev, chairman of the USSR delegation. His views were supported by the representatives of Romania, Bulgaria and Czechoslovakia.
The future of UNEF was being discussed here for the second day in the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee. Yesterday, Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold told the committee that UNEF must continue its operations.
“There is no question,” said Mr. Hammarskjold, “but that the interests of the United Nations are best served by the continuance of the UNEF operation as it has been established.”
Mr. Sobolev, who assailed the legality of UNEF, insisted that Israel, Britain and France must carry the entire financial burden because “they bore the full political and material responsibility for the aggression against Egypt.”
Pierre de Vaucelles of France endorsed the presence of UNEF as “beneficial” and praised Israel and Egypt for the fact that their border is now quiet. “No doubt,” he said, “the common desire of Egypt and Israel to maintain the status quo for the time being” is the main reason for the improvement in the situation. However, he said, UNEF helps to prevent incidents along the Egypt-Israeli border “which might be caused by agitation.”
The committee adjourned until Friday when it is expected to approve a draft resolution allocating the UNEF costs to all United Nations members.
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