Secretary-General U Thant announced here that he has appointed a special mission to investigate recent border incidents on the Israeli-Jordanian frontier. He named his military adviser, Brig. Indar J. Rikhye, and Pier Spinelli, who for years has been the UN’s special “presence” in the Middle East, and these two will arrive in the region by tomorrow, confer with both Jordanian and Israeli authorities, and report back to the Secretary-General within the next 10 days.
The naming of the special mission followed two visits to the highest Secretariat offices in the last three days by Ambassador Michael S. Comay, Israel’s permanent representative here, accompanied by Lt. Col. Yaacov Monbaz, member of the Israeli Mission. They met first with Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Undersecretary for Political Affairs, then with Dr. Bunche, and Mr. Thant, detailing information about a long series of Jordanian attacks against Israel during the period since December 8.
After listening to the Israelis, Mr. Thant decided on sending the special mission. He indicated that there is a “serious deterioration in the situation there.” It is understood that, prior to naming the special mission, Mr. Thant conferred also with Jordan’s Ambassador here, Abdel Monem Rifai.
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