Syria today requested an early meeting of the Security Council, accusing Israel of violating the Israeli-Syrian armistice agreement by erecting a Bailey bridge across the Huleh swamps in the demilitarized zone. The United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, whose observers examined the bridge on the demand of the Damascus government, have held that the span does not constitute a military artery as the Syrians had charged.
Col, Byron V. Leary, acting chief of staff of UNTSO, will leave Jerusalem for Damascus tomorrow, at the invitation of the Syrian government, to discuss the ruling that the structure is not a military thoroughfare but “could” be used “for military purposes if a government desired to use it in such a manner.”
Today, Rafik Asha, head of the Syrian delegation, conferred with Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold and then sent a letter to Henry Cabot Lodge, president of the Security-Council, demanding that the Council meet to discuss the Syrian complaint. The Council may meet later this week in response to Syria’s request.
Meanwhile, Abba St Eban, chairman of Israel’s delegation, conferred for 40 minutes today with Mr. Hammarskjold. While the meeting was described as a “courtesy call” by the Israeli diplomat, as the aftermath to Mr. Harmmarskjold’s visit to Jerusalem, sons observers thought that Mr. Eban and Mr, Hammarskjold discussed not only the Syrian complaint but also the results of Mr. Hammarskjold’s Jerusalem talks with Israel Prime Minister David Ben Gurion and other top leaders of the Israeli government.
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