Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. chairman of the United States delegation to the United Nations and this month’s president of the Security Council, issued a warning here today that Egypt and Israel had better cooperate with Maj. Gen. E.L.M. Burns in his efforts to pacify the Gaza border area or the Council may be called to a meeting on this issue.
In an unusual action, without a meeting of the Council but as head of that body. Mr. Lodge took the initiative to issue the following statement.
“As president of the Security Council this month it is incumbent upon me to bring to the attention of the members of the Council my concern over the situation created by the continued incidents along the Gaza demarcation line and the difficulties which are being encountered by the chief of staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in carrying out the Council’s unanimous resolution of March 30, 1955. You will recall that this resolution called upon the governments of Egypt and Israel to cooperate with the Chief of Staff with regard to his proposals directed toward preservation of security in that area.
“It is to be hoped that the Security Council resolution will be implemented promptly with the full cooperation of the Governments of Egypt and Israel. If this hope is not realized, however, and Gen. Burns does not receive the full cooperation of the parties concerned, it may be necessary to call a meeting of the Council for the specific purpose of considering the status of the implementation of the resolution of March 30 and such further assistance and support to the Chief of Staff as may be necessary.”
Mr. Lodge addressed his letter to the ten other members of the Security Council and sent copies to the representatives of Egypt and Israel as well as to Secretary Dag Hammarskjold. The latter will presumably relay the communication to Gen. Burns.
As Mr. Lodge’s letter was issued here it was indicated by United States sources that American diplomats have approached both Egyptian and Israel officials with a similar expression of concern over the explosive Gaza situation. It was understood here also that Washington’s position regarding the suggestion for a demilitarized zone along the Gaza strip, made by Col. Abdel Gamal Nasser, Premier of Egypt, would be acceptable to American authorities if it received the approval of Gen. Burns.
Meanwhile, the Israel delegation here prepared a detailed breakdown of recent incidents along the Gaza border, stressing that the Mixed Armistice Commission decisions placed the blame for the current situation on Egypt.
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