United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold opposes the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission considering Israel’s complaint of aggressive action and belligerent threats, it was learned in diplomatic circles here today. On the other hand, these sources said, there is an important body of opinion at UN headquarters in Jerusalem which holds the opposite point of view.
The Acting Chief of Staff of the UN Truce Supervision Organization, Col. Byron V. Leary, is reported to have consulted with Mr. Hammarskjold after Israel complained of Syrian hostility. It is understood that the Secretary General expressed the opinion that neither the MAC nor Col. Leary could deal effectively with matters of “principle” as he interpreted the question of aggressive threats, but should confine itself to small, technical matters.
The other view, held by UN officers here, is that such an interpretation will further inactivate the truce set-up and acknowledge the UN’s failure in this sphere. They point out that for all practical purposes the Israel-Egyptian and Israel-JordanMAC’s are dead, while the Israel-Syrian MAC has been inactive and if now further stymied will follow the other two.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
