Dr. Francisco Urrutia, special representative of United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, today released the text of an agreement reached between Israel and Jordan settling the Mt. Scopus conflict.
The agreement includes a statement from both parties expressing willingness to implement the 1948 pact on the demilitarization of the Mt. Scopus area. Both parties also undertake not to erect any fortifications in the future, and to remove and destroy all military installations which are contrary to the 1948 pact.
The ink had hardly dried on the Mt. Scopus agreement when Jordan made its first complaint under the Urrutia arrangement. Jordan charged that Israeli guards had interfered with Arab farmers at Ussafuya village on the height and that the Israelis were seen digging trenches and laying barbed wire fence. The Jordan radio said that UN observers had gone to investigate.
The agreement provides that the United Nations shall assume the exclusive responsibility for ensuring that the convoy arrangements are in conformity with the Mt. Scopus agreement of 1948 and the existing plan for the convoys. The Jordan Government will ensure the protection of the convoys during the crossing of Jordanian-controlled territory. The United Nations shall be responsible for ascertaining the need and ultimate use of items included in the convoy manifests.
Dr. Urrutia also released the text of a letter he addressed to Israel’s Premier David Ben Gurion informing him that United Nations representatives will see to it that the fortnightly convoys which Israel sends to Mt. Scopus are to proceed under the following regulations: 1. The yearly quota for unprohibited items–other than food, fuel and water–may not exceed the average of the last three years. (Unprohibited items are articles which are not arms, ammunition, military equipment of any kind, mail, maps or diagrams that can be in any way construed as containing military information.) The yearly quota will be distributed in the convoys in quantities to be agreed upon with the United Nations. 2. When items not taken up in the past or items in greater quantities than the above average are included in the convoy manifest, transport will take place after United Nations representatives will have satisfied themselves as to their need. They shall have the authority to check their ultimate use.
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