U.N. Truce Commission Working out Details of Suppleing Jerusalem Population with Food

The United Nations Truce Commission met in almost continuous session throughout the day working out the details of supplying the civilian population and guarding against future violations of the cease-fire by either side.

Late last night the Commission established a convoy checkpoint at Bab el Wad, 15 miles west of Jerusalem. The checkpoint was set up when the Jews, who had earlier refused to permit such a station except on this city’s outskirts, yielded to a Commission threat to declare them in violation of the terms of the truce agreement. A control station will shortly be established at the Allenby Bridge across the Jordan River to prevent arms from arriving from Transjordan.

(In Cairo today, where he went to consult with Arab League Leaders, U.N. mediator Count Folks Bernadotte commented that the question of supplies for Jerusalem “will be ironed out” by the Truce Commission and the interested parties. “All supplies for the Jews in Jerusalem–food, water, electricity, etcetera–will be subject to fired quotas under strict control of observers. This will apply to supplies going in by the old or new routes,” he stated.)

The member of the Truce Commission are badly overworked and have divided the work among themselves as follows: The French consul is working on the problem of free access to the Holy Places; the Belgian on the determination of need and the distribution of supplies; and the American on checking convoys and determining the exact lines to be held by the opposing forces.

Last night Bernard Joseph, Israeli representative to the mediator’s staff, met with the Commissioners to discuss various problems. He proposed, among other things, that the United Nations assume responsibility for the repair of installations supplying water to both sides in Jerusalem. Thus far his talks with the Commissioners have not been conclusive.

Jewish and Syrian commanders on the Galilee front today met with a Swedish and two by the American truce observers in the former Jewish village of Michmar Hayirden, captured by the Arabs after the cease-fire deadline, to straighten out territorial claims arising from post-truce fighting.