U.N. Officials Confer with Shertok on Halting of Military-age Immigrants to Israel

Two United Nations officials today called on Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok reportedly to discuss the halting of immigration of men of military ago to Israel, following an order to this effect allegedly made by U.N. Palestine mediator Count Folke Bernadotte.

The exact nature of the talks between the U.N. representatives and the Israeli Minister was not disclosed, but the Israeli Foreign Office denied receiving an order from Bernadotte calling for the stoppage of Immigration into the country of men of military age by Sept. 2. A United Nations observer said that the “order” was only “temporary.” It is believed that any such order, reportedly issued last night, would be rejected by Israel as an Infringement on the rights of a sovereign stats.

United Nations circles here indicated that the two U.N. Officials laid before Shertok a request that a date be fixed for the temporary halting of such immigration. The request is said to provide, however, for the admission of all persons for whom travel arrangements have been made before the deadline. The ban would remain in effect for an indefinite period during which immigration of military age men might continue, but only under such conditions and in such numbers as permitted “by Bernadotte. U.N. circles say the ban would be aimed at halting immigration only temporarily.

U.N. quarters assert that it the Israeli Government refuses to accept Bernadotte’s prohibition, the mediator will not label their action a violation of the truce, but will turn the entire matter over to the Security Council for a decision. The mediator wanted his staff to check whether Israel had gained a military advantage by the entrance of 35,000 immigrants since May, it was Indicated.