U.N. Calls Upon Egypt and Israel to Cooperate with Truce Chief

The Security Council today passed unanimously–by a vote of 11 to 0–a resolution calling upon both Egypt and Israel to support the United Nations truce chief, Gen. E.L.M. Burns, in his efforts to maintain security along the Israel-Egypt borders.

The vote came at the end of a long and arduous session highlighted by the fact the both Egypt and Israel expressed dissatisfaction with the resolution under consideration. The resolution was the second adopted unanimously within two days. Both motions had been sponsored by the Western Powers–the United States, Britain and France–and received the Soviet Union’s vote in spite of the Russian delegate’s excursion into cold war tactics.

The resolution takes note of the fact that Gen. Burns’ report to the Council on the February 28 Gaza incident had spelled out “the causes of the present tension.” In this oblique manner, the Council took account of Israel’s insistence that the Gaza clash of a month ago was only the culmination of Egypt’s campaign of infiltration and attack. The resolution also noted that Gen. Burns had made concrete proposals to tighten border security, and called upon both Egypt and Israel to give Gen. Burns their utmost support.

EBAN WITHDRAWS HIS AMENDMENTS; CAUTIONS SECURITY COUNCIL

Abba S. Eban, chief of Israel’s delegation, delivered a 45-minute address in which he told the Council that there had been 1,006 instances of infiltration of Israel’s territory from the Egyptian-controlled Gaza strip between last August and February of 1955. He insisted that these marauding parties constituted not only “a local inconvenience” but waves of “this purposeful, constant and mounting tide” of Egyptian aggression.

Mr. Eban withdrew four amendments he had previously proposed to the three-power resolution. However, he cautioned the Council that Israel may be forced to return to it and complain further about Egyptian marauding and incursions. He expressed the hope that Egypt would take into serious consideration the “exhortations” addressed to it by members of the Council who called for peace and for support of Gen. Burns’ peace efforts.

Mr. Eban’s objections to the resolution were based on his contention that its language neither defines Egypt’s aggressions nor condemns them nor criticizes them sufficiently. As to Gen. Burn’s concrete proposals, made in a four-point memorandum to both Egypt and Israel. Mr. Eban said that Israel could accept two of those recommendations. They are: the building of a physical barrier along the entire Gaza border; and establishing the principle of contact between local commanders on both sides of the border.

The proposals by Gen. Burns, supported by the members of the Security Council, provide that the following measures be taken along the Gaza strip demarcation line: 1. Patrolling sensitive sections of the line by joint patrols of military vehicles from each party and from the UN; 2. Negotiation of a local commanders’ agreement, along the lines of the Israel-Jordan agreement in force prior to June 1, 1954; 3. Construction of a double-apron barbed wire fence along certain positions of the demarcation line; 4. Manning of all outposts and patrols by regular Egyptian and Israel troops.

BIG POWERS APPEAL TO EGYPT AND ISRAEL FOR COOPERATION

U.S. delegate Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr., in supporting Gen. Burns’ proposals, said that Egypt and Israel had not always shown their readiness to cooperate with the UN truce chief and his military observers. “I do not believe that the truce supervision organization has been given a fair chance to prove that the troubles which have occurred in the past can be prevented,” he declared. He expressed the hope that upon the return of Gen. Burns to the area, no time would be lost in working out his proposals so that they could “immediately” be put into effect.

Sir Pierson Dixon. British delegate, said the Security Council dealt “severely but not unfairly” in adopting yesterday a resolution condemning Israel for the Gaza incident. He then referred to the Egyptian attack on the wedding in the Israel settlement of Patish and termed it “an outrage of particularly macabre and poignant character.”

Declaring that “violence breeds violence,” the British delegate indicated that Egyptian infiltration, often accompanied by violence, had gravely contributed to the feeling of insecurity among the Israelis in the border settlements. “Insecurity,” he pointed out, “breeds desperation and when desperation leads to violence, the vicious circle is complete.”

Sir Pierson emphasized that Britain supports the recommendations made by Gen. Burns. He expressed the hope that Egypt and Israel will not reject them. As United Nations members, Israel and Egypt should pay close attention to the wishes of the Security Council and should genuinely cooperate with Gen. Burns, he said.

Henri Hoppenot, French delegate, similarly urged Egypt and Israel to accept Gen. Burns’ recommendations which, he said, seemed to him “constructive and reasonable.” He criticized Egypt as the country responsible for most of the infiltration which contributed to mounting border tension. He pointed out that at one time the Egyptians infiltrated 20 kilometers into Israel territory.