U.N. Council Debates Israel-syrian Clash; Accepts Stevenson Proposal

Adlai E. Stevenson, chairman of the United States delegation to the United Nations, proposed to the Security Council here today that it request Major General Carl C. von Horn, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, to come to UN headquarters here in person to consult with the Council in regard to the conflicts between Syria and Israel. His proposal was accepted and the meeting adjourned until next week.

The Council convened this afternoon on the Syrian and Israeli charges and counter charges, in which each side accused the other of deliberate aggressions and violations of the 1949 Israeli-Syrian Armistice Agreement. After Farid Chehlaoui, Syria’s permanent representative, demanded “severe and rigorous” condemnation of Israel, while Israel’s permanent representative, Ambassador Michael S. Comay, requested the Council to extract from Syria a pledge of peace in the Lake Tiberias area, Mr. Stevenson took the floor. He was the first representative of the 11-member Council to debate today’s issue.

Pointing out that Gen. von Horn has reported to the Security Council not only about Israel’s raid against Syrian gun positions on the night of March 16-17, but also regarding other events which have created a “dangerous situation” in the area, Mr. Stevenson said: “It is apparent from even a preliminary study of the reports of the Chief of Staff that there has been both provocation and retaliation. Both of these are contrary to the letter and spirit of the General Armistice Agreement and cannot be condoned.”

Mr. Stevenson told the Council that General von Horn’s report “is not conclusive on the origin of the events leading up to the Israeli assault on Syrian positions north of Nuqueib.” It is to be noted, however, Mr. Stevenson continued, “that in the first of these incidents, on March 8, the Chief of Staff comments that the statements of Syrian witnesses did not explain the damage done to the Israeli police boat.”

STEVENSON SAYS ISRAELI RETALIATORY RAIDS ARE NOT JUSTIFIED

Mr. Stevenson told the Council that “whatever the facts in this connection, they do not, in our view, justify the Israeli reversion to any policy of retaliatory raids.” He pointed out that there is ample UN machinery in the area to help avoid conflict and declared “if the United Nations peace-keeping machinery has not always been adequate to preclude such difficulties, the answer lies in improving the machinery and cooperating with it. It does not lie in raising the scale of military action in violation of the Armistice.”

The American diplomat told the Council that he hoped the current Israel-Syrian border conflict would not repeat the “tragic” hostilities “which preceded the shattering of the peace in the Middle East in 1956.” He then added: “In the light of the fact that the Council has not had the benefit of first-hand information from the Chief of Staff since 1956, we propose that

the Council request the Chief of Staff to return to New York to be available for consultations. Such direct consultation should help our deliberations and our understanding of the situation.”

In the meantime, Mr. Stevenson said, while General von Horn’s appearance here is being awaited, “we urge both Israel and Syria to continue their full cooperation in maintaining the cease fire. We urge also that neither party take any steps which might inflame or aggravate the tensions which evidently are high.”

Acting Secretary General U Thant was cool to Ambassador Stevenson’s proposal for summoning General von Horn here. Mr. Thant told the Council he would arrange to bring Von Horn here if that was the wish of the body but would do so “with mixed feelings.” Due to the situation in the area now, Mr. Thant said, “there are strong reasons why I would like to have the Chief of Staff there.” The UN Chief told the Council that Gen. von Horn has already made available in his report all the information he possesses “so he could not add much further information.”

Clear statements that the United Arab Republic and the Soviet Union will refuse to equate the validity of Israel’s current Council complaint with the grievance filed by Syria, were made at the opening of the Council session by Mohammed H. El-Zayyat and Platon D. Morozov, the Council representatives for the UAR and the USSR respectively.