Israel Prods U.N. Secretary to Arrange Direct Talks with Jordan

Israel has reminded the Secretary General of the United Nations that he is obliged to convoke a conference between Israel and Jordan under the terms of the general armistice agreement, it was disclosed today.

A communication from the Israel Government to the Secretary General said that the situation on the Israel-Jordan frontier had deteriorated further in recent weeks and that a conference is more urgent now than it was when Israel invoked Article XII of the armistice which makes a meeting of both sides compulsory.

(In Amman, the Jordan capital, Premier Fawzi el Mulkl said today that the Jordanian Government was categorically opposed to talks with Israel aimed at modifying or suspending armistice provisions to reach a peace accord. He said the seven other Arab States from which communications were received agree with the Jordanian rejection of such talks.)

Ambassador Abba Eban in a press conference this afternoon said that a month had elapsed since he had invoked Article XII and that nothing had been heard of any progress. “Our disquiet is fully justified, ” he declared. The armistice agreement states that the Secretary General shall convoke a conference and Mr. Eban emphasized that this was a clear obligation.

The Israeli representative said that during the past month there had been 15 attacks by marauders from across the Jordan border. Some of these incidents had resulted in loss of life. The frequency of these attacks had made it clear that “decisive measures are necessary to save the armistice system from further deterioration, ” Mr. Eban stated.

He indicated that this was not only a violation of the armistice agreement and the Security Council resolution ordering Egypt to stop the Suez Canal blockade but an extension of these “piratical acts” to food. He indicated Israel might pursue the matter further in the Security Council.