U.S. Tells Security Council It Seeks Peace, Arms Race End in Mideast

The United States Government, in a statement to the Security Council today by Washington’s delegation chief, Arthur J. Goldberg, declared categorically that its “public and private” policy calls for peace in the Middle East, “a policy based on respect for all peace-loving states which adhere to the United Nations Charter.” Peace, said Mr. Goldberg, citing recent and repeated statements by President Johnson and by himself, and affirming that the principle “applies specifically to the Middle East.” is first on the United States agenda.

“We shall unceasingly,” added Mr. Goldberg, “pursue the goal of peace for all countries in the Middle East–and we shall join in doing so with other countries which have initiated the arms to stop that race. What I said on this subject today in the General Assembly’s Security and Political Committee, I repeat with specific reference to the Middle East. Peace, I repeat, is first on our agenda in the Middle East. The Security Council should act, must act, to keep the peace.”

The Council met this afternoon to continue debate on Israel’s charges against Syrian failure to halt terrorist incursions into Israel, and, after hearing several speakers, adjourned until early next week so that the 15 members may study further reports on the Israeli-Syrian situation to be submitted by Secretary-General U Thant on the basis of information from the UN’s representative on the scene, Lt. Gen. Odd Bull, chief of staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization.

At the meeting today, Israel’s permanent representative, Ambassador Michael S. Comay, made another statement indicting Syria. He reported that nearly 70 terrorist actions, nine of them involving exploded mines, had terrorized, killed and wounded Israelis. He noted that, in the last six months, nine mine-laying incidents were all traced to the nearby Syrian border.