United Nations observers in the Jerusalem area took independent action yesterday to preserve peace in the demilitarized zone of this city and the Latrun area.
Without seeking permission from either side, UN observers took up positions along the Old-City walls and began watching troops on both sides of the demarcation line. At the same time, the observers are maintaining continuous contact with UN truce headquarters here.
In the Latrun area observers in white-painted jeeps have begun mobile patrols. They are not accompanied by officers from either side. These measures were instituted by Maj. Gen. E. L. M. Burns, new UN truce chief, who dispensed with the former practice of sending observers across border areas only when accompanied by Israeli and Jordan officers.
Gen. Burns met today with Maj. Gen. Moshe Dayan, Israel Army Chief of Staff, in what is reliably reported to have been a conference devoted to this new move by the UN. Gen. Dayan is believed to have objected to it, asserting that it was dangerous because Israeli border patrols could not always be sure whether such parties were UN observers or infiltrees crossing the border.
President Ben Zvi of Israel today received in audience Gen. Burns, who was accompanied by Henri Vigier, his political advisor.
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