U.s., Britain Stirred by Jordan’s Quitting Security Council Debate

The American and British delegations at the United Nations were busy today checking with their respective governments on what should be their attitude toward Jordan’s withdrawal from discussions on the Palestine issue in the UN Security Council.

The withdrawal, which was officially announced late last Friday by Abdul Monem Rifai, Jordan Ambassador to Washington, is considered here a refusal by the Jordan Government to submit in advance to any decisions the Security Council may take on the complaints and counter-complaints of Jordan and Israel now pending before the Council. Jordan is not a member of the United Nations and Israel therefore insisted that she pledge in advance to accept the obligations of peaceful settlement of disputes stipulated in the UN Charter.

Sir Pierson. Dixon, British representative at the United Nations who is president of the Security Council for the month of May, said today that the stand taken by Jordan “is not in the spirit” of the British-Jordanian defense pact. He revealed that he is consultating his government in London on how to act with regard to Jordan at the next meeting of the Security Council, which is expected to take place on Thursday or Friday.

The American delegate Henry Cabot Lodge, who is to become president of the Security Council tomorrow for the month of June, said today that he is consulting the State Department on further action. His stand will be important inasmuch as it is up to him to call the next meeting of the Security Council.

Some members of the Security Council indicated that in view of Jordan’s withdrawal from the Councils discussions of her complaints against Israel the entire debate on the Palestine issue should be dropped. However, it is understood that the United States will insist on continuation of the debate. A spokesman for the Israel delegation at the United Nations has also made it clear that Israel will demand that the debate be continued.

Jordan’s sudden withdrawal from the Council’s discussions of the complaint against Israel’s alleged attack on the Jordanian village of Nahalin, after being invited to sit at the Council table during the debate, is considered an indication that Jordan is definitely not inclined to settle matters peacefully with Israel.

It is also considered an insult to the United Nations. The withdrawal took place after the Jordanian Ambassador had participated in several sessions of the Security Council and even delivered a lengthy speech here demanding condemnation of Israel for the Nahalin incident. Officially, the complaint on the Nahalin incident was presented to the Council by Lebanon, since Jordan is not a member of the United Nations. The status of the complaint is now up in the air as a result of Jordan’s action.