Israel’s Early Resumption of Jordan Waters Project Seen in U.N.

Optimism was expressed in United Nations circles today over the possibility of the passage by the U. N. Security Council next month of the Big Three resolution under which, it is hoped, that Israel will be able to resume its work on the hydroelectric project in the demilitarized zone of the Israel-Syrian border.

Whether the Soviet delegation will veto the resolution, when adopted, was today a matter of speculation. Andrei Vishinsky, head of the Soviet delegation–who has been fighting the resolation ever since it was introduced on December 21–told the U. N. Security Council last night that he will continue to fight it, in view of the fact that Moscow considers the resolution as an attempt on the part of the United States “to lay its hands on the economy of the Middle East.” He insisted that the resolution was “defective from A to Z.”

The fact that Mr. Vishinsky disclosed that his opposition to the resolution is motivated by anti-American feelings rather than by pro-Arab inclinations came as a surprise to the French and British delegations which were beginning to yield slightly to the Arab demands for substantial revisions in the resolution, while the U.S. delegation stood firm on the proposed text. Today it was considered likely that the stand of the American delegation would be reaffirmed by the French and the British when the Security Council resumes debate on the resolution some time between January 7th and 15th.

The January session of the Security Council, although it will be conducted under the presidency of Dr. Charles Malik, the Lebanese delegate who speaks at the Council on behalf of all Arab countries, offers the Big Three a better opportunity for receiving the seven votes needed for the adoption of the resolution of the 11-member Council, Pakistan, Chile and Greece–which have been known as opponents of the Big Three resolution in its present form and which is acceptable to Israel–will be replaced in the Council in January by New Zealand, Brazil and Turkey, which are likely to vote in favor of the resolution.

The Arabs are seeking the introduction of modifications in the Big Three resolution to assure Syria the right to veto Israel’s resumption of work on its hydroeletric project. The U. S. delegation, it was learned today, is of the opinion that while each country is entitled to its sovereign rights, it cannot impose its will on neighboring countries. The American Government takes the stand that the U. N. Truce Chief in Palestine, Gen. Vagn Bennike, is the only authority to decide on whether Israel should or should not continue the work on its project. The Big Three resolution directs Gen, Bennike to report to the Security Council within 90 days on the measures he has taken to give effect to the resolution.