United Nations Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold, prior to his departure this week-end for Europe, conferred with Mordecai R. Kidron, deputy chairman of the Israel delegation here, in connection with the present situation along the Arab-Israel borders. It is understood that he is determined to see to it that “nothing shall be left untried” in the UN efforts to improve the situation between Israel and Egypt.
Just exactly what Mr. Hammarskjold is trying to arrange vis-a-vis pacification of the Egypt-Israel border is still a closely guarded secret here. Ranking members of the Secretariat, as well as members of the Israel delegation denied a report circulated Thursday that Mr. Hammarskjold had planned a “high level” conference with Israel and Egypt authorities while in Paris. However, it was clearly implied by those who are in on the planning level that Mr. Hammarskjold is attempting some definitive move without, however, interfering in any manner with the authority of Maj. Gen. E.L.M. Burns, the UN truce chief.
It was emphasized that the latter, who as chief of staff of the UN Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine acts as Mr. Hammarskjold’s emissary on the spot, continues to have the Secretary General’s fullest confidence. “I can assure you that from our side nothing has been left untried, and nothing will be left untried, because we can not let the situation slip back to where it was a couple of months ago, “Mr. Hammarskjold stated, referring to the situation on the Egyptian-Israeli border.
Mr. Kidron revealed that he had given the Secretary General a report on Israel’s official reactions to the situation as it exists now in regard to Egypt and the other Arab states. It is understood that the Israel diplomat told Mr. Hammarskjold that the “theory of belligerence” followed by the Arab states, particularly by Egypt, has provided Israel’s Arab neighbors with the “license” they need to justify physical attacks, political isolation, economic discrimination and blockade.
Mr. Kidron was said to have pointed out to the Secretary General that the recent explosions of mines along the border proved that Egypt could prevent the setting of mines, as it had recently done or allow their use; mines, he stressed, come from military stores.
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