United Nations truce chief Maj. Gen. E.L.M. Burns today rejected Israel’s demand for a UN investigation of Egyptian troop concentrations near the Israel border. He suggested that UN observers be given the right to investigate both sides. Both parties, he said, had at a different times contended that the other was concentrating troops and arms in excess of armistice agreement limits.
In a communique issued tonight. Gen. Burns demanded the introduction of a “system of periodic visits” by United Nations observers in the demilitarized zones, with complete freedom of movement in these areas. The communique was issued following a meeting this morning with Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett who had asked a UN investigation of Egyptian troop concentrations in the El Auja and El Arish areas. There is no point in investigating one side, Gen. Burns’ communique asserted.
Commenting on the UN communique, a Foreign Ministry spokesman pointed out tonight that there had been no Egyptian counter-complaints alleging Israeli troop concentrations along the border. “To the best of our knowledge,” the spokesman said, “there never were such complaints.”
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