Possibility of Coup in Jerusalem Reported by U.N. Mediator to Security Council

Count Folks Berradotte, U.N. mediator for Palestine, today informed the Security Council by cable that the situation in Jerusalem remains tense and that “there are rumors of impending coups by irregular elements which are alleged to be uncontrollable or to be used as spearheads of regular forces.”

The U.N. mediator emphasized that “the demilitarization of Jerusalem as recommended by the Security Council would best remedy this tense situations” He added that he is flying from Rhodes today to Jerusalem in order to continue his talks with the Jess and Arabs for the demilitarization of the city. “Pending results of the conversations, I shall continue, with the assistance of the truce commission, my effort to relieve the tension in the city by promoting as far as possible the conclusion of arrangements on specific points,” he reported.

Food convoys for the relief of the Jewish population of Jerusalem have been reamed under U.N. supervision and efforts are being continued to reestablish the supply of water, Bernadotte informed the Security Council. However, he added that “opposition on the Arab side to measures calculated to afford relief to the Jewish population of Jerusalem is increasing.” He attributed this development “to the bitterness caused by the plight of Arab refugees in Palestine and neighboring countries and the unwillingness of Jewish authorities to cooperate in this matter.”

Reporting on the general situation in Palestine, the mediator said that on a government level both the Jews and the Arabs wish to continue the truce. “Compliance with its provisions must, however, in the circumstances, depend to a large extent on an adequate system of supervision,” he pointed out. He appealed for additional military observers to make the supervision of the trace more effective.

“An effective supervision system of the truce is all the more necessary as there are signs of tension resulting from the lack of trust in the good faith of the other parties and from the fear that hostilities may shortly be resumed despite the trace ordered by the Security Council,” Bernadotte pointed out. He drew attention to the fact that public statements by Arab and Jewish leaders have recently indicated that their governments night, as a consequence of alleged violations by the other parties, take such military action as they thought fit.

NEITHER JEWS NOR ARABS CAN END TRUCE UNILATERALLY, BERNADOTTE WARNS

In order not to permit any breaking of the truce until a peaceful adjustment of the future situation in Palestine is reached, the mediator, prior to his leaving Rhodes today, issued instructions to the U.N. observers which make it clear that “no party may unilaterally put an end to the truce.”

The instructions emphasize that “no party cay take the law into its own hands and decree that it is relieved of its obligations under the truce resolution of the Security Council because in its opinion the other party has violated the truce.” The orders point cut that “only the Security Council is competent to decide what measures should be taken against the violator of the truce” and should either party resize hostilities under any circumstances it would act against the decision of the Security Council.

“If one party finds itself under unprovoked attack, it should limit its self-defence to operations necessary to repulse such attack pending action by United Nation observers.” Bernadotte’s instructions state “such observers shall recall to the parties concerned the terms of the truce, Any refusal to comply with these terms, particularly by refusing to issue a cease-fire order or to take the necessary measures indicated by the observers for putting an end to the breach of the truce, shall to reported by the observers. Whatever the result of operations undertaken in self-defence, the Status quo ante shall be restored.”