S/PV.545 Security Council

l should like to draw the attention of the Council to sub-paragraph 2 (i) of the agenda. This new sub-paragraph was added upon the request of the Israel delegation. 2. In this connexion l wish to repeat the ruling of previous Presidents of the Security Council that complaints are listed in the provisional agenda as they are fonnulated by the interested parties, and no prima facie value exists in any item appearing on the provisional agenda. The items are intended only to identify the subj ect matter. 3. Ml'. BEBLER (Yugoslavia): l wish to ask why sub-paragraphs (a), (b), Cc), (d) and (e) of item 2 do not contain the word "complaint". They are also under c1iscussion. The word "complaint" appears only in the sub-paragraphs starting with Cf).

These items were presented before l assumed the Presidency. However, the representative of the Secretariat informs me that the items are listed in the agenda in the form in which they are presented by the parties, with the same wording. 5. Ml'. REBLER (Yugoslavia): If we put the words "complaint of" before all the sub-paragraphs from (a) ta (e) as they now appear, would the President object? It wouId then read: "Complaint of violations ... Complaint of military occupation" and so on.

l personally have no objection. l shall put the question to the Council. If the CouncÎl desires to change the wording, l shall communicate its decision to the Secretariat. The Palestine question (continued) At the invitation of the President, NIr. Eban, retwe- sentative of Israel, Paris EI-Khouri Bey, representative of Syria and Major General Riley, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, took places at the Council table.

Befme proceeding, there is a procedl1ralmatter which l should like to submit to the Council. l have received the foUowing letter c1ated 7 May 1951 from the deputy permanent representative of Israel to the United Na~ions: "1 have the honour to request, in connexion with the meeting of the Security Council which is scheduled on Tuesday afternoon, 8 May, that an opportunity be given for illY de1egation to show at United Nations Headquarters, if possible immediate1y prior to the meeting, a documentary film dealing with the Hu]eh drainage project. This film, which has been procluced by an Israel company, indicates graphicaUy the charader and pUt'pose of the work in the Huleh area, and we believe that in present circumstances it would he of considerable interest ta the members of the Counci1." 9. "Vith regard to this question, 1 shoulcl like to point out that the practice of the United Nations has been that no films be shown in the premises of the United Nations without the prior clecision of the organ concerned. If it is the desire of the Council to see this docul11.entary film dealing with the Huleh drainage project, a time can be fixed and the Secretariat can then be requested to make the necessary arrangements for its showing. 10. Does any member of the Coul1cil wish to move that the docu111el1tary film be shawn to the Council? 11. Mf. VON BALLUSECK (Netherlanc1s): l am sure that the film in itself will be very interesting. However, l ask myself whether the Council as such is interested in the project of draining the Huleh marshes, as a project. l be1ieve that the Council is only interested in this matter in regard ta whether it does or does not contravene the terms of the Israel-Syrian General Annistice Agreement 1. For that reason, l doubt if there is ahy special reason why this film should be shown by a decisioll of the Council. 12. The PRESIDENT: Does any other representalive wish to speak on this matter? 14. l should like now to give members of the Council some informationconcerning the order of speakers. We have under consideration the joint draft resolution set forth in document S/2130, dated 8 May 1951. As co-sponsors of this draft resolution, the representatives of the following delegations have asked for permission ta speak: United States of America, United Kingdom, France and Turkey. The representative of Brazil bas also asked for permission to speak, and if no other member of the Council should indicate a desire to take 'part in the discussion, l shall then calI upon the representatives of Israel and Syria in the order of their requests for permission to speak.

The Security Council has before it document S/2130 dated g May 1951, setting forth a drait resolution, calling for a cease-fire in Palestine, presented today by the representatives of France, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Its text is as fo11ows: "1. Recallil1g its resolutions of 15 July 1948 or [5/902], 11 August 1949 [5/1376], and 17 Novem- ber 1950 [5/1907, 5/1907/Corr.1], "2. Noting with concern that fighting has broken out in and around the del11ilitarized zone established by the Syrian-Israel General Armistice Agreement 20 July 1949 and that fighting is continuing despite the cease-fire order of the Acting Chief of Staff the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization issued on 4 May 1951, "3. CaUs upon the parties or persans in the areas concerned ta cease fighting, and brings ta the atten- tion of the parties their obligations under Article paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations and the Security COl1ncil's resolution of 15 luly 1948 and their commitments l1nder the General Armistice Agreement, and accordingly calls upon thel11 ta COI11- ply with these obligations and coml11itments." 16. Members of the Security Council have had many reports that fighting is contlnuing in and around the demilitarized area that separates Israel and Syrian forces. These reports have been published in the Press. Communications and statements have been made by governmcnts and by the Truce Supervision Organ- ization. In addition, a new complaint has been placed upon the agenda of this Council. 17. It is inclicated that the area of the fighting lies north of Lake Tiberias and in the c1emilitarized zone south of Lake Huleh. The confiict flamecl up in spite of the cease-fire arder that the Acting Chief of Staff issued on 3 May [5/2118, para. 6]. The reports give a great deal of information regarding the extent of the fighting and the responsibi1ities of the participants for that 18. It is a situation which c1emands immec1iate action by the Security Counei1. The action that the Security Council takes in this matter should be understood to he c1irected to the parties and persons in the area without prej ndice ta fmther Security Council deliber- ation. In assessing responsibility for this outbreak in these later deliberations, the Council may weU wish to take into account the reac1iness of the parties to comply with Council c1irectives. In this connexion there are reports that attempts have been made to stipulate condi- tions for accepting and carrying out a United Nations order to cease fixe. vVhether either party is or is not implicated in the fighting, neither Israe1 nor Syria should lay c10wn conditions for carrying out a Security Council cease-fire orc1er. The fighting must be ended by prompt, open compliance on the part of aU con- cerned, whoever they may be. Only then can the matter he properly investigatec1. : 19. Vihether or not Syria and Israel are directly re- sponsible for or implicatec1 in this conflict, it is proper for the Security Council to remind bath United Nations Members of their obligations unc1er the Charter anc1 their obligations as signatories of the Ar- mistice Agreement. The apparent serious threat to peace and the obvious breach of the Armistice Agreement permit no other course of action. 20. The Unitec1 States, in co-sponsoring the draft resolution at present before the Security Council, earnestly hopes that the Council will nc10pt it without c1elay today. This action, as l have saic1, is necessary to safegl1ard the security of the area concerned and to permit proper investigation of the faets. Adoption of the draft resolution in no way w0111d mean that the Couneil drops its c1iscussion of the Palestine question. It mere1y interrupts it in arc1er to talce an emergency step which circ1l111stances require. Discussion of the main question should thereafter continue. .

His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom has been grave1y disturbed by the recent worselling of the relations between Israel anc1 Syria and by the outbreak of fighting in the demi1itarizec1 zone. It has been above a11 concerned at the recent reports of a fresh outbreak of fighting in what l understand is ca11cd the Shamalne area. l t regards this development as particlliarly t1l1fortunute, in view of the fact that it occurred, as we know, at the very moment when the Security Council was considering how peaceflll conditions could !lest be restored anc1 how the various points at issl,.t<;: in the dispute could best be r~501Yecl. 23. It is, however, because the fighting seems ta be c1early contrary ta the Armistice Agreement and, l may add, ta the principles of the United Nations Charter itself that my delegation hopes that the Council will adopt - and, as the United States representative said, adopt .at once ~ the draft resolutioll which the delegatians of France, Turkey, the United States and the United Kingdom have had the honour to submit ta the Security Council. \Vith this clear statement of the Council's view on record, we trust that those responsible for the recent fighting will cease hostilities forthwith and give full facilities to the Mixed Armistice Commission and to the United Nations observers ta establish the lacts and to investigate any complaints of action in contravention of the Armistice Agreement which any party may wish ta put hefore them. Whatever the provocation may be, in the view of my government redress should first be sought through the machinery provic1ed in the Armistice Agreement and not through resort ta armed force. 24. My government therefore also makes a strong appeal to the 'Governments of Israel and Syria and ta the local communities in the demilitarizec1 zone not only ta ensure strict observance of the cease-fire, but also ta ellsure that full assistance and co-operation are given ta the Chairman of the Mixec1 Armistice Commission and ta the United Nations observers. 25.. We are fully aware - as all of us are - that the form of administration in the demilitarized zone provided for in the Armistice Agreement must inevitably give rise ta difficulties in practice. It has always been our hope that this rather peculiar form of administration might he speedily replaced by a permanent settlement arising out of a peace treaty between Israel and Syria. In themeantime, however, it is in our view the inescapable duty of the Governments of Israel and Syria ta give their full co-operation ta the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission, in arder to overcome the difficulties which are inherent in this purely temporary form of administration. Still more, in our view, it must be their dutYta avoid any act of provocation and ta sub111it any matter which may be the cause of friction between them ta decision by the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission. l must here express 111y government's opinion that there could be no justification for the refusàl of either party to the Armistice Agreement to attend meetings of the Mixed Armistice Commission, and generally to co-operate in its wor1e b~ regarded as a reflection on the wark of the United Nations observers, it does seem ta us that, if the Council is to require the Governments of Israel and Syria and the local communities in the demilitarizec1 zone to make proper use of the machinery estahlished under' the Armistice Agreement for settling dispntes and for conducting the local administration, there must be snfiicient observers available ta deal promptly with any c1ifiiculties that from time ta time may arise. This is a matter which General Riley has, 1 am sure, very much in mincI, and he may perhaps like to express some views on this particular point ta the Cotlncii. In any case, it wouId, 1 think, be helpful for the Council to give him an assurance that we should gladly endarsc any extra expense entailec1 by an increase in the Observer Force, if this wOl1ld in his view contrihnte ta a relaxation of the tension in the c1emilitarized zone and assist in the smooth operation of the Armstice Agreement. 27. In conclusion, may l once more appeal ta the Governments of Israel and Syria to show thcir aclherence iu practice to the principles of the United Nations Charter and to the General Armistice Agreement ta which they have both, after ail, solemnly suscribed, not only by themselves avoiding the use of armeù force in settling disputes connected with the ac1thinistration of the demilitarized zone, but also hy using their al1thority ta prevent the Israel and Arah c01nnmnities in the clemilitarizec1 zone from having resort to force. 28. Palestine is an area in which the United Nations believes - rightly 1think - that it has special responsibilities, and 1 am sure that mY colleagues will support me when 1 say that once peaceful conditions have lJeen restored in the c1emilitarized zone, the Coul1cil ancl its representatives, the Chief of Staff and the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission willnot fail to grapple most earnestly with the points at issue which have givcn rise ta the present fighting. The Council is houncl, l think, ta take a serions view of action by either of the two governments or hy either of the two local communities in the c1emilitarized zone which is inconsistent with the clearly cxpressed provisions of the General Armistice Agreement. 29. For those reasons 1 therefore urge that toclay certainly we should vote, and 1 hope vote unanimotlsly, the draft l'l'solution which has thus been submittec1 ta the Coullci1. 30. Ml'. LACOSTE (France) (tral1slated fr0111, French): On 15 July 1948, the Security Cotlllcil adopted a resolution /5/9021 which expressly recogl1ized that the position then existing in Palestine constituted 11 threat to peace within the meat1ing of Article 39 of the Charter, and which ordered the governments 31. The state of affairs in Palestine now is not fundamcntally different from that with which our resolution of 15 July 1948 was concerned. Hostilities have again broken out in that area; the two opposing parties have had recourse to force; irregular or regular elements of their forces, weapons in hancl, are crossing the bounclaries of the zones which were demilitarized under an armistice agreement. Military aircraft of one party have even gone so far as to drop bombs on the territory of the other. \7Ve are again faced with violence, forced evacuation, destruction of property, wounded and dead. 32. The position is all the more grave because the two parties involved are subject to the arni.istice régime and because the situation is under the constant supervision of a truce organization set up for that purpose by the United Nations. It is most regrettable in itself and fraught with danger to the local population, to the States pàrties to the confiict, to the whole area to which those States belong, and, finally, to peace in general. 33. The French Government is greatly concerned at these deplorable events. It feels that everything must be done to awaken the parties to the dispute to a respect for their obligations under the tenns of the Armistice Agreement, and, above a1l, to put an effective end to the hostilities. My government believes that nothing is more urgent than such a de facto return to peace, even before any sett1ement of the current incidents. . 34. It wonld, in fact, be useless for us to continue the task which we undertook at the previons meetings unless we began by a firtn declaration that the immediate cessation of hostilities is absolnte1y obligatory for the two States concerned. It is in this spirit that my government submits ta the Council, jointly with the GoVe1'11111ents of the United States, the United Kingdom and Turkey, the draft resolution which has just been distributed. It hopes l110st sincerely that the Coundl will adopt the resolution unanimously and that its provisions will he i111111ediately put into effect.

As one of the sponsors of the joint draft resolution now before the Council, wish to make the following statement in my capacity as representative of TURKEY. 36. In the opinion of my government, the development in the Israel-Syrian armistice area presents several aspects. First of a1l, it is a new manifestation of the generally unsettled situation in the whole of Palestine. We are, naturally, deeply and sincerely concerned about the unsett1ed conditions and the instability in that region. To begin with, we are concerned, as a member of a free international cOl11munity, as we would be concerned a,bout unsettled conditions anywhere in the world. We are further concernec1 as a nation directly interested in the Middle East. Because the Middle East is our own regiop. and because çonditions there are 130 c;:lQl3e and sa t'e~11 ta us, our earnest 37. In spite of all their undesirable and sometimes deplorable effects, the incidents and developments had remained on a local scale. There has been one incident, however, which has cansed us deep concern. Tt is the aerial bombing in the El Hamnm district on 5 April. This was not a local incident. Aerial bombing is a very grave step which, as a measure of retaliation, cannat be j ustifiec1 and which should not be condoned. 38. In this connexion, l wish to point ont that we have noted with satisfaction the expression of regret 01 the Israel Government for the action it had taken in the El Hamma district, as cOl1veyed ta the Security Council in the statement made by the representative of Israel on 25 April [542nd 11/,ecting], and the assurance that such action will not he resorted ta again. On the other hand, although we regarc1ed and continue to regard the developments in the Israel-Syrian armistice area as local incidents, the recent reports have been so ' alanning that we could not, as a member of the Secnrity Conncil, remain silent. The tension kept growing and the incidents became llU1l1erous. The situation, if allowecl to conti11Lle and to develop, will definitely be harmful to the prospects of any peace settlement and eventual stability in the area. 39. It is with this conviction that my delegation is co-sponsoring, together with the delegations of France, the United Kingdom and the United States, the ch'ait resolution which is now before the Council. This draft resolution is simple and contains nothing which might be considered objectionable by any of the parties. Tt cantains no blame and nothing to prejudice the rights, daims or interests of the parties. 'yVe believe that the acceptance of such a clraft resolution would permit the study of the outstanding questions with clue care and would eventually help to bring about the retutl1 of normal conditions and lasting peace to Palestine and ta the Middle East.

The 13razilian de1egation expresses its full support of the joint draft resolution before us for the following reasons. 4L It is quite obvious that a permanent settlement of the question will not be reached unless the two parties refrain from the tlueat, or use of force. The continuance of current border clashes in the area will tend, through their natural development and the exacerbation of national feelings, to impair and jeopardize the chances 42. l wish furthennore to express the hope that General Riley, whose experience, skill and tactfulness are weIl known to ail of us, wm be in a position ta retu111 promptly to Palestine to supervise the cease-fire arrangements now contemplated. 43. It is imperative that Israel and Syria live up to their commitments under the General Armistice Agreement and forego any action likely to spread the area of their present differences, which are generating an atmosphere of general uneasiness in the Middle East. 44. We take it for granted that both parties will scrupulously observe the cease-fire order of the Security Couucil and thus abide by the provision of Article 2, paragraph 4, of the Charter of the United Nations, which precludes the use or the threat of the use of force as a means of attainlng the political objectives of any Member State. 45, Finally, l share the conviction tbat at the moment when the international situation appears so pregnant with dangerous and ominous elements of fear and intimidation, neither Syria nor Israel will wish to add another sore spot to the too many points of friction unfortunately already existing. 46, Mr. VON BALLUSECK (Netherlands): Grave incidents have again occurred on the Israel-Syrian border in connexion with the dispute over the Israel project for draining the H uleh marshes and straighteningand deepening the bed of the Jordan River between Lakes Huleh and Tiberias. As the Council will recall, the first Syrian complaint to the Mixed Armistice Commission was made on 14 February last [S12049, section IV], and at the subsequent formaI meeting of the Commission on 21 February, both delegations agreed to seek the opinion of General Riley, who on 7 March submitted a memorandum on this matter. 47. Even since then there has been a growing disagreement between the two parties. Incidents began to take place and quickly spread over the demilitarized zone as far south as El Hamma. They were very serioL1s and involvecl casualties and killings on both sicles, and even bombardments from the air. Ever since thesc troubles started, we have heard of increasing tension and of succeeding infringements committed or alleged ta have been com111itted by either party, both of them often claiming that they acted in rctaliation for what the other party had started cloing. In this way one infringement leads ta another, one retaliation Jcads to another, and more and more guns go off.

l wish to aclclress myself exc1usively and briefly to the subject of the joint clraft resolution: the recent hostilities ancl the urgent need to bring them to an end. 50. At the 544th meeting of the Sccnrity Council on 2 May 1951 l called urgent attention to the aggression conunitted that morning by Syrian forces which had crossed the southern sector of the northern demilitarized zone and established themselves at Tel el Mutilla in Israel territory to the west of that zone. The operation of these forces in the clcmilitarized zone and elsewhere in Israel territory constituted a violation of the Armistice Agreement and an act of aggression vvithin the meaning of Chapter VII of the Charter. The Security Council, having received this grave complnint recently, rose that evcning without taking any action on it or requiring any immcdiate observation of the position at Tel el 1\1utilla. Thereafter, and perhaps consequently, Syrian aggression has developed with increasing scope and momentum into the climax of violence which has now led to Israel 's formai protest and complaint [S/2121 J. 51. It is my dutY to afnrm that armed forces of the Syrian Repl1blic, under the responsibi1ity and direction of the Syrian Government, have cstablished themselves in Shamalne at the sOl1thern triangle of the demilitarized zone; have organized the inhabitants of that village to supplement their own active operations; have themselves made twenty assall\ts by classic and skilfl1l military method on strategic heights in Israel territory ta thc north and to the south of that zone; have Sl1ccessively captured those heights,' entrenched themselves upon them and been repulsed from them; have cancelled and violated a cease-fire arrangcment concluded between the parties; have inflicted and suffered considerable casualties; and have left behincl in known demilitarized Israel territory unmistakable evidence of 52. In· his cablegram to the Security Couneil [S 2126], the Israel Minister for Foreign Affairs sets out in precise detail the various episodes of this aggression. The masterplan was to send units of the Syrian Army into the triangle and on to the heights commanding from the west, with such utilization of local inhabitants as might he necessary to obscure the fad of Syrian initiative and responsibility. Several weeks ago my government was fully aware of orclers of the Syrian General Staff authorizing the recruitment and arming of some hundreds of "civilians" to be pnt unc1er military command for operations in and against the c1emilitarized zone. But once the first skirmish is unc1er way, the façade is renounced and Syrian regular units enter the field.. On 2 May [544th meeting} 1 informed the Security Council of the presence of two platoons of Syrian troops at Tel el Mutilla and Kirbed Abuseid, both in non-demilitarized Israel territory, which inflicted the first four fatal casualties on an Israel patral. Having been ejected from Tel el Mutilla, a force comprising regnlar Syrian troops continued to occnpv height fnrther south, a]so outside the clemilitarized zone. Throughout the engagement these forces received mortar support from Syrian territory, 'from which the attack was directed anc1 commanded. 53. In the ensuing days the Syrian attempt to capture and control the heights near and at Tel el Muti11a continued in varying strength. On 4 May, while discussions of a cease-fire were in progress, news arrived of Arab forces digging in in increased 11tunbers on height south of Tel è1 Mutilla, laying te1ephone lines for the evident purpose of directing artillery and simultaneouly. occupying a height north of Tel el Mutilla outside the zone. At 1940 hours that day, Tel el Mutilla was str0ngly attacked by steel-helmeted men with mortar support. At 2100 hours this assault was repulsee!. Jt was later renewed. But on 5 May Syrian forces were still t1l1dislodged from points south and north of Tel el Mutilla at map points 2070-2568, which is the apex of the demilitarized triangle, and 2075-2584 in the non-demilitarized area. At this point, the observer, Colonel Bossavy, reporting from the Syrian side, no longer denied that Arab forces were operating 54. A \'ignrnlls .1l1d hanl-fought action Il\' Israel trnnps on tlll' night (lf fi ~lny 1q51 I1nally clèarecl the apex of t1ll' l'Ill'IllY, who tlwn f1ed in disot([er from his position on tilt' northern poinl, abo in the non-demi\itarized territm\' of Israel. 'l'Ill' Isrm~l area olltsic1e the demilitarized Z;111l~ was no\\' cl(~ar of the il1va<ler. 55. Thronghout ull this [ll'riod, linited Nations nhserVl~rs had nut apprnadll'd Tel el ~I utilla from the Israel sic1t\ c\espile aIl this [('stll'ss and uhiql1ito115 activity il1lplied in souIl' (If th(';;e reports of \\'hich l l11ust slwrtly {ln'st'ut a l'andit! appraisal. 1'0 make tbis deticit'nc)' g-'HJd, 111)' ).:II\'l'l'I1111('111 hall in\'ited the scn'ire (lll(lf"'~S of dbintl'rt'l'!tl'c1 l'o\\,('rs who full)' CClll- 6rml'(1 the fact of Ih.. atlill'\.; (In Israt'1 t(~rritnrv nt Tel el i\lutilla. :\ft('r th(, til'rl'l' lIight lmttle on 6 :Ùay, two United Nations uhserVl'rs, Captain Bl'bhlcy and Ohsen'cr Prudhomme accolllpalliec\ Captaill Friecllan<1er, of tlll' Isral'1 c\e1t'!~atil\11 to the !II ixed Al'lnistice COlllmission, to the :m',L of hllstilitil~s. They inspected Lmth Tel d l\lutilla in Iswt'\ t('rritoI"Y and the hdght [rolll which the Syriull forel's lIa<l 1Jl'l'1l dblmlged in tl1(' ('arl" 1I0l1l's pf 7 1\1 ilV, tn tilt' illlmediatl' "'l'st of the Wl'stel'11IlInst point c;i Iht' dl'l1lilitarizl'd zone. The observers fnund the fnllll\ving ill'l1Is nf Syrilll1 Arm)" l~qlli]llllellt: a qllHlltity of l'artridgl's frpm H Chàtt',LlI light l1lrlchinc-gllll, a largl~ qllanlily (lf harHl grt'nades, French ri Ik~s, twn l'mJlt)' cast's ni hand grt'nades \Vit11 thl~ folIo\\'ing' Ara1Jie l1Iarkings: On O\Il', "A Company, hand g1'l'l1adcs, 50"; on annlher, ole Company. grenades, 50"; Syrian 1\nn)' mess tins, a Herctta machinc-gun, a considerable quuntity of various types of other alll111l1nilion ; ancl Syrian Anny ratiol1S ln their origillal packings. TIl(' tren('hes on this height had clearlv lll~l'n laid nul b" skilll'c\ militun' hands and s\lllred eXI)('rtl)' \\'ith s:tlldhags. One of the d(~ad ,vas in full Syrian ll1ilitary \tattle tlnifonll, c()l11plet(~ with militar)' hoots a11([ full military wehhing, 56. On Tel (,1 1\1utilla itself there \\'('n' si~n~ of pI'O- [l'ssionally lllli1t 1.'111pla(x·ll1ellts erected il)' the Syrians as forwarc\ pusitions frmn which to attnck Israel furees. Fn'nch h:ul(l g-rl'nad('s Wl'I'l' scaltel'ccl O\'er the (~l11plac<.'­ menl:;. S\'I'ian arIllV C(luipl11t.~nt shown tn the t'uited Nations "nhsl'I'\'C't':;' illc1uc1l'Cl: Ile\\' Frt"lIch ritles, meclium IIHlchille-gnlls and Ch:tte:1.I1 light 11Iachille-gulls \Vilh anllllllllitioll l1lag-~l7.il1l's; a1111l1lll1itilll1 Iw1ts for I,Int,chkiss 1ll:1l'hine-glllls: a Syrian arItly mp with a SYl'lilll army hadg-l.'; alllll1l1llition hUXl':> full nu(1 l'IllptY: and elltrellc:hillg looI.~ with official Syrian Army markillgs, The tWn United Nations ohi'icrvers, Captain 57. In further investigation, the United Nations Observer Pnldhomme examined on 8 May, in the morning, two bodies of Syrian soldiers found the previous day in the undemilitarized Israel area near Tel el Mutilla, one in battle dl'ess, army boots and army anklcts, ancl on him a binocular case inscribed "El Jundi Tajjar Abbad"; the other in khaki and anny equipment. Near the bodies were two steel helmets and Château light machine-guns and, nearby, the fol1owing items: a rifle, manufactured in 1936, with the number 1558 on its leather sling and the name Haddar el Darwish, with which there appeared thrice the military number 51772; three haversacks fiJled with Château a11lmunition in its original packing, the first marked "Rasim Owal, 1st platoon", the second having a number, 33169, and the words "Mafraza Tanya", the third being marked "El Jundi Mohammed Samir Ali". There was a fragment of a mortar marked "Cartoucheries françaises 32 mm."; there was a torn piece of paper clearly signed by a Syrian sergeant; there were more Syrian Army rifles, Syrian am111unition, light machineguns and another mortar. 58. Observer Prudhomme was present when these soldiers were found; he confirmed the find, which consisted of the two bodies to which l have referred. There were also Syrian military knapsacks fillecl with ammunition in original cases. The following day the boclies of two further Syrian soldiers, in ltnifor1l1 with Château light machine-guns at thdr sides, "vere found within our area outside the zone. 59. The Security Council will not fail to understand the vehement indignation with which 111Y government must react to any suggestion that the forces attacking its territory at Tel el Mutilla and in the vicinity are ·'civilians". We cannot give the slightest credence to any SllCh fantastic thesis. Let us sweep aside ail these irrelevancies about shepherds and oxen, about civilians and cows. The very nature of the operations themselves disproves any such idea of civilian activity. There is nothing civilian about a group of people moving in precise and scientific formation to assault, and then holding a hill with rifles, light automatic weapons and mortar support. And there is nothing civilian about these trenches, these unifolïns, these badges, these rifles and machine-guns, these army am1l1unition boxes, these Syrian official markings and, above all, there uniformecl Syrian solcliers. There is, therefore, nothing civiliall in the manner of death which our gallant 301diers met on that tense ancl savage night of 6 May. ÔO. Surely the United Nations would demean its prestige by taking any account of sartorial habit when faced by what is c1ear aggression. For ~lS, this Syrian 61. This intense and raging battle of Tel el Mutilla, the very existence of which eU1erges faintly from the report of the Acting Chief of Staff in document S/2118, is now in a state of respite and, we hope, of termination. Tt was accompanied by other more characteristic features of Syrian violence - the usual firing on workers at Banat Yakub steadfastly liberating the Ruleh marshes from their oelious plague, and increasing the tension in the southern sector by shooting at Ein Gev from the Syrian armed post establishecl at Nuqeib on Lake Tiberias. The period since 2 May has seen Syrian aggression on all fronts reach its peak of intensity, and it has had many hard moments for us. 62. l must make it clear that the Government and people of Israel c0111111end with im111easurable pride all the operations conducted by their armed forces in all sectors of the battle during this perlod during which they have managed, despite tactical handicap, ta preserve the immnnity of the demilitarized zone. My government rejoices in the successfnl action against the invader at Tel el Mntilla, and bows its heacl iri momning at the graves of its troops who fought - in their llniforms as soldiers shoulclin defence of their . country and its fllnclamental rights. The Government of Israel, of conrse, has unfettered discretion in organizing the protection of its territory ontsic1e the zone. On the other hanc1, we are anxions to observe the limitations and immunities of the clcmilitarizec1 zone ttnder the Armistice Agreement. We therefore look with concern llpon an allegedly demilitarized zone which serves as a base and shelter for persistent attacks on our territory and people. We have completely lost our taste for unilateral Israel cease-fires. But once the United Nations succeeds in removing the present th;eat to our security by prevailing on the other sicle, in observance of the Armistice Agreement, to withclraw all armed forces from the demilitarized zone, immediate orclers will of course be issuecl to the Israel Armv ~ce~~. • 63. "'yVe are, therefore, in full accord with the central theme Qf the dmft resolution now pre:;)entec1. We mu~t, 64. lt is an unfortunate circu111stance that this intensive Syrian aggression was accompanied by a vil'tuaI breakclown of United Nations machinery in the area in the absence of the Chief of Staff, and especially in respect of investigation anc1 reporting. The extent of this deficiency is well illustrated by the cablegram of 3 May 1951 [5/2118] pnrporting, together with other cablegrams, ta be a description of events in the southern apex of the northern dcmilitarized zone. No picture of any operations either of attack or defence emerges from these disjointed recitals. The complaints are merely recitec1 as they come in. They are neither investigatec1 nor sifted. They are neither estimatec1 nor appraised. They are not joined together in any articulate pattern of narrative. 65. This particular report cOllsists exc1usively of reports of the cOl11plaints submittec1 by bath parties. Even there, the Israel complaints are not accurately or fully transmitted, and the main military engagements are entirely ignored. Paragraph 4 of the report of 3 May, which c1eals with the crucial first attack on Tel el Mutilla, implicitly confesses the capture of that height by Arab forces, but assures us that: "United Nations observers reported that they could not identify Arabs occupying positions as Syrian soldiers. Men were in Arab civilian dress". Surely, however, we could not shrung our shoulders if, for example, Tel Aviv were bombed, simply because the pilots wore lounge suits or civilian hats. 66. What cau be saic1 of the statement, addec1 as a postscript to the statements about the c1eac1 catile, that: "Observers hac1not seen Israel dead or wounc1ed" ? They hac1 not seen them because they hadnot gone ta see them. For, up to the evening of 5May - four full days after the invasion of Tel el Mutilla - observers on the Israel side of the demarcation line had not gone ta the area of main conflict. The observer across the line, Colonel Bossavy, was positively assertive that Syria was in no way in- 2 The text of the amendment to the joint draft resolution (8/2130) proposed by Israel (5/2135) is as fol!ows: "Pa1'ograph 3: After the words 'cease fighting' add the words 'and to withdraw al! military and para-military forces which have penetrated into the c!emilitarized zone'." 67. In a recent report there are suggestions of Israel air action. There has been absolutely no Israel air action of any kinc1 whatsoever. It may well have been permissible as a measure of c1efence ta pursue the attackers of Tel el Mtttilla to their base, lmt this measure was renouneed in the cause of restraint. 68. There is an observer';; report, admitteelly l.lndefined and tentative, in document S/2124 that " ... Israel forces are occupying part of the demilitarized zone at the Houthem end of the central sector". Since we know that Israel forces are not doing anything of the kincl, we, for ottr part, cannat fail to be uneasy about the standard of this reporting. 69. Paragraph R of the report of 3 May reads: "On the l110rning of 3 May, etluipment of the Palestine Land Development Company continued ta work in the Khoury l'ann area and south of the I3anat Yakllh bridge in the central sector of the demilitarizec1 zone, but at 0945 hours GMT worle ceascd, following exchange of rifle and automatie ",eapons fire." This may weil be a nentral way of saying that Syrian forces shot a Israel civilial1 \VOl'kmCll, for paragraph 12 incleecl reveals who were the authors and who the victims of this attack, sinee a special cease-fire hac1 to he arrangecl to seurch for six missing Israel civilian workers in that area. 70. The only matter provecl by these reports is the urgent necessity for establishing effective, intelligible and frank United Nations reporting in this tellse and tormented zone, where all such equivocations cannat fail ta cause a profound sense of uneasiness anc1 lack of confidence. 71. In conclusion, my government must continue to pnrsne its unrel11itting efforts to seCUl"e a clue and proper determinatiol1 of aggression, for this represents the 1110St grave event which has yet oceurred since the armistice system was estahlishec1. Not for a single moment have we been ahh~ to believe that the Svrian objective has been anything but the maintenanée of tension anc1 violence, in a vain hope ta arrest the economic development and progress of this area. 72. vVe do not believe that we are obsessed bv anv feeling of infallihility, as perhaps we may have proved at a previous meeting of the Sec.urity Council. The mark of imperfection and erraI' is written on aU human 73. Faris EL-KHOURI Bey (Syria): In listening ta the members of the Security Council who have expressed their views on the draft resolution calling for a cease-fire, l thought that the COlmcil would prefer that the discussion in this meeting should be limited ta that draft resolution. l did not think that the gentleman on the other side of the table would go so far as ta discuss the entire question and the other issues which have been previously discussed and which will be subsequentlY discussed when the other aspects of the question are considered. 74. For this reason, l had intended ta say a few words on the ciraft resolution calling for a cease-fire. Since, however, the representative of Israel has taken the chance of directing sl1ch severe statements towards Syria and of making various false accusations, l do 110t think it would be proper for me now to Ieeep silent. l hope that the President will allow me to take the chance of denying these accusations formally and on the basis of proof which l have before me. 75. The representative of Israel has not remained idle during the interval between the last meeting of the Security Council on 2 May and today's meeting; he has made further contributions to his planned propaganda activities. On 3 May, he sent a te1egram to the President of the Security CounciI, which was Îlnmediately printed and distributed as document S/2117. In' this telegram, he reiterated his statement on alleged Syrian aggression to which he had referred at the previous meeting of the Council, and added that, on the morning of 3 May, Syrian forces had opened fire with artillery and mortars on Israel positions north of Lake Tiberias. He also said that the Syrian aggression had continued in the afternoon. l would say that it was unfortunate that these accusations should have been made at that time, for on the same day, 3 May, the Acting Chief of Staff addressed a cablegram to the President of the Security COt111cil, which was issued as document S/2120 and in paragraph 2 of which the Acting Chief of· Staff stated: 76, That was the accusation made on the spot and at the time when the aggression was claimed to have taken place, Paragraph 3 of document S/2120 states: "Observers report that no - repeat, no - Syrian troops have been seen in demilitarized zone, They further report that mortar fixe was directed from Israel territory on Arab positions in the demilitarized zone and in Israel territory, Obervers adcl that neither Syrians nor Israelis have shawn the dead to United Nations observers, Observers state that they have no - repeat, no - evidence of mortar fire or artillery ilre being directed from Syrian territory towards the demilitarized zone or Israel territoiy. Observers report that Arabs in civilian c10thes in the demilitarized zone have been seen firing with automatic weapons and rifles." 77, It is not the daims and allegatiolls of the parties that have weight in the Secllrity Council and that should be taken as the basis for decisions and judgments. A party can make many daims, especial1y if it does not care for the truth. It may make false accusations against the other party, l have many papers before me, papers relating to events that have occurrecl there, l could make many accusations, but l do not care to do so, l rely mostly on the reports coming from the organ of the United Nations which is charged with the dutY of giving the tTue faets of those accusations ta the Security Council. Vve have those reports from those people; we do not care to make such accusations. The Security Council should wait to judge such accusations until it receives a report from its representatives on the spot. 78, The representative of Israel paid l11l1ch attention to the new report which came today [5/2127] and which is dated 8 IVlay 1951. Paragraph 1 of this document states that a United Nations team of observers were taken by the Israel Commander to the spot in Tel el Mutilla to show thcm the remnants of' Syrian equipment, This taok place ilve c1ays after the event. It was not hard for them to col1ect aU those clothes, those remnants and those pieces of equipment and put them in that place in order to show them to the. tealll of observers. However, on the same day the event took place, the observers said that they could not find anything of the sort, neither dead nor wounded nor any of the Syrian equipment which was claimed to have been found there. 79, It is wel1 known and accepted that during an investigation on the spot in criminal cases nothing must be moved, everything must remain in ,the same state and in the same position in which it was when the 80. l shollid like, first of all, to correct certain allusions or, rather, wrong allegations which have been repeated several times by the representative of Israel in the Security Council and elsewhere and also allegations made by other J ewish spokesmen to the effect that Syria intends to occupy and is trying to OCCllPy the demilitarized zone. In support of this fallacy they quote my statement made in the Security Council on 17 April [541st n~eetingJ ; however, they quote it in a distorted way. l said: "The territory comprising the demilitarized zone had been for the most part under Syrian occupation, as l have already stated. When a final peace agreement has been concluded, Syria will certainly insist that this territory should be returned to its controL" 81. This allusion was in connexion with the Israel daim in one of the agenda items that the demilitarized zone was in Israel territory. l never saiel nor intended it to be understood that Syria has any desire or wish at the present time to occupy any portion of the demilitarized zone. Syria withdrew its forces in 1949 from the sectors it was occupying in order that the demilitarized zone, created by vil'tue of the Armistice Agreement, might be established llnder the stipulations of that agreement. It did not withdraw in order to be replaced therein by the Jews. Syria temporarily gave up its authority there in favour of the United Nations organ which was to take charge of the administration in that area, but never ta give way so that the Jews could step in and take possession of the zone, as they are trying ta do at the present time. Syria considers that during the armistice period all claims to any sector in the demilitarized zone are held in abeyance. The destiny of this area is ta be established in the provisions of the eventual peace treaty. 82. This zone was detached from areas under occupation. If the armistice is to be abolished without a peace treaty, the position of each of the parties prior to the armistice is evidently to be reinstatec1. In this case no party can daim during the armistice any sovereignty in any part of the demilitarized zone. The previous territorial rights and claims are temporarily suspended. 83. Uncler the present circumstances, l solemnly declare that my government does not entertain any inten- 84. Syria has no interest in provoking this cOl1flict when the world is in need of calm and pacification. The events during the past three 1110nths are ample evidence to show which party is responsible for this regrettable situation. The Jews started in February last the gigantic work of draining the lake and swamps of Huleh within the demilitarized zone without prior consultation and accord with the other three parties concerned, namely, the United Nations organ in control of the demi1itarized zone, the Syrian Government which is the cosignatory of the Armistice Agreement, and the owners of the land where the operations of the project are to be conducted within that zone. 85. The landowners opposed the coercive attempts used to subdue them, and clashes followed. The Syrian Government submitted its daims and complaints in this situation ta the Chief of Staff who, in accorc1ance \Vith the provisions of the Armistice Agreement, referred the case to the Mixed Armistice Commission. The United Nations organ tried to impiement article V of the Armistice Agreement and ordered the stoppage of the work pending investigation and the l'eaching of some acceptable arrangement. But the Israelis were not law-abiding. 86. vVhy have they remained so aclamant to al! conciliatory procedures? Only because their object cannot be attained through legal channels. They hate to leave these Arab inhabitants in possession of the land where they wish to create a new settlement for the newcomers among their co-religionists. They wish to use these portions of land in their own way, and the Arabs who have been living there for centuries past are an obstacle in their path. .It is now apparent that the Jews intend ta dispose of those Arabs by purchasing their land and chasing them out, or, failing that, by frightening and 1110lesting them in order to put them to flight, or by acCt1sing them of rebelling against authority, blowing np their villages and forcing them to flee. They have alrcady applied one or other of these iniquitous devices in many villages; for instance, Baqqara, Samra, Khoury Farm, Nuqueib, and, very recently, the villages of the Shamalne tribe, as a result of which we now have these incidents l1ncler discussion. Every time the Jews begin an attack in the execution of their criminal plan they open the campaign by giving wide publicity to a fictitious complaint that Syrian armed forces penetrated ta the demilitarized zone and opened lire on the Israel police or on a settlement beyond the demilitarized zone, or by making similar false accusations in order to justify their subsequent guilty action of putting the native Arabs to flight, blowing up their homes and occupying their villages. It is well known that the Jews have great ability in promoting such publicity and propaganda to attract public opinion in their favour and to show Syria as the aggressor and 87. The last incident, which occurred on 2 and May, provides an example of Israel tactics in this conflict. The Acting Chief of Staff cabled to the President of the Security Counèil as follows [S/2118, para. 4]: "At 1700 hours GMT on 2 May, the Israel Company Commander" - l caH attention to the fact that it was a high-ranking officer in the Israel Army who toole part in this incident - "in the area informed United Nations observers that at 0630 hours on 2 May Israel Army patrol had encountered large flocks cattle,sheep and goats one kilometer inside Israel territory." It wiH be observed from this report the source of the conflict which is being given such serious consideration by the Council now. "As the patrol began confiscating the cattle" - l caH attention to the word "confiscating" to inc1icate that because he saw cattle, sheep and goats inside Israel territory he wantecl confiscate them. The meaning of the word "confiscate" is to appropriate, to take them to the public treasury- "fire was opened on them by armed Arabs and Syrian soldiers." Syrian soldiers were introduced into the report merely to justify t~le action against Syria; Syrian soldiers were there at aH. "During the exchange of fire three Israel soldiers were killed and one was wounded. Approximately fifteen cattle were killed. The Israel Commander statecl that Arabs were occupying positions at Tel el Mutilla inside Israel-controlled territory." The Israel representative has confinnec1 this his statement today. "United Nations observers reported that they could not identify the Arabs occupying the positions as Syrian solcliers. The men were in Arab civilian dress. The observers had not seen Israel c1eac1 or woul1ded." 88. This is the official report of the observer on the day the incic1ent toole place, and not five days later. The cablegram verifies the fact that the accusations of the Israel Commander, as well as the statement Mr. Eban at the last meeting of the Security Council, were incorrect. No Arab soldiers were in the area; the Israel solc1iers confiscated the cattle of the Arab natives in order to c1eprive them of their only means livelihood, without justifying this act of robbery. The Arabs tried to rescue their cattle and were subdued and their cattle leilled or taleen by an act of "highjacleing" The daim of Israel casualties was also false. 89. The]ews are at present applying the same tactics in the demilitarized zone as those employed previously in Palestine to put to flight native Arabs and appropriate their belongings, an act of aggression which left about one million refugees without homes. The Arab inhabitants of the demilitarized zone have, for the most part, Red to Syria, greatly increasing the number already there; and we are asleed to say nothing about Both Syria and Lebanon have large nUl11bers 90. The incident of El Hamma, in which seven policemen were killed, was caused by the adventure of that police patrol in coming ta occupy El Hamma. This has been confessed by one of the Israel patrol in his testimony given ta the observers and reported ta the Security Council by the Acting Chief of Staff (5/2084, paras. 18 and 19]. This indicates that Jewish efforts are directed towards occupying the demilitarized zone and disposing of its inhabitants. 91. As regards the question of military advantage, we cannat agree to the theory that Syria is not concerned in the accomplishment of the Huleh drainage project and that the only rightful parties concerned are the owners of the land where the work is ta be carried out in the demilitarized zone. Syria firmly believes that this drainage provides for the Jews a great military advantage which is prohibited by the provisions of the 1 Armistice Agreement. Vve also cannat agree ,that the possibility of bath Israel and Syria profiting by this advantage, as indicated by General Riley in his first report [542nd meeting] and as supported by the Israel Government, makes the creation of a military advantage permissible. 92.. We affinn that the three parties concerned, namely Syria, Israel and the United Nations representatives, agreed that drainage of Lake Huleh provides a military advantage. The creation of sl1ch an advantage is definitely prohibited by the Armistice Agreement. Syria earnestly reql1ests that the Security Councïl find its way to eliminate this most flagrant violation of the Armistice Agreement. The fact that the possibility to profit by this aclvantage is open to bath belligerents ean by no means justify its creation so long as one of the sides refuses ta acquiesce in the action. Nor ean the sanitary help which the drainage project affords in fighting malaria in the area be a sufficient reason for Syria ta sacrifice its other motives and ta agree to being exposed ta very grave dangers. Draining water is not the only way of fighting against malaria. There are other methods which Syria has used in Huleh and elsewhere for a long time, and the malaria has almost been eliminatecl. ' 93. In my first address in presenting our case on 17 April [541st meet'ing], l gave six reasons why Syria is cleeply affected and concerned by the drainage project which, if completed, would place heavy charges and liabilities on Syria and would deprive it of considerable economic and administrative advantages. The decla- 94. The Syrian Govemment does not makè extravagant demands for the solution of this problem. 95. It reqllests, first, that provision be made for the stoppage of the work in the demilitarized zone pending the achievement of an understanding, reached in cooperation with the United Nations Chief of Staff and the Mixed Armistice Commission, between the signatories of the Armistice Agreement, and pending acquiring the free consent of the owners of tl1e land where the work is to be conducted in the demilitarized zone, in conformity with the instructions of the United Nations Chief of Staff based on the provisions of the Armistice Agreement. 96. Secondly, provision should be made for the immediate retum of Arab inhabitants to their homes, from which they were expe11ed, in the Arab villages within the demilitarized zone, so that restoration of normal civiliau life may be realized. The deportation of· inhabitants cau by no means be reconciled with this principal condition to be respected in the demilitarized zone, that is, the exercise of normal civilian life. 97. Thirdly, provision should be mac1e for payment by Israel of adequate indemnity to those Arabs to recover their losses and reconstruct their property, which was destroyed or damaged by Israel in the demilitarized zone. 98. Fourthly, provlslOn should be made for the withdrawal of a11 military and para-military forces from the demilitarized zone, together with policemen not locally recruited. l calI the attention of the members of the Security Council to the word "para-military". We accept that wording, but it must be correctly interpreted. The Jews wouId consider the natives of the land as Syrian para-military forces. That interpretation cannot be accepted. Those poor peasants are not Syrian citizens; they are Palestinian and they are trying to defend their own interests against Jewish aggression which is aimed at taking their pl·operty. We note the Israel amendment to the draft resolution which states: "and to withdraw all military anc1 para-military forces which have penetrated into the demilitarizec1 zone". \'i\That does the reprcsentative of Israel mean by the worc1s "which have penetrated into the demilitarized zone"? He daims that the Jewish forces have been there for a long time, that they have not penetrated iuto the area recently. They would withdraw their para-military forces or their military forces or their policemen because, they say, "we have said 'which have penetrated into the demilitarized zone' ". Which have penetratec1 when? A date should be fixed. The Armistice 99. Fifthly, proVISIOn should be made for restricting the policing of the villages in the demilitarized zone to strictly locally recruited police, as stipulated in the Armistice Agreement, Instead of this, J ewish policemen are coming at present from Haifa or Tel Aviv or from other places. The Armistice Agreement says distinctly that the Chief of Staff will recruit ·locally the necessary ntunber of police for internai security. These police are not supposed to come from outside the area acting on the orders of their chiefs in Israel territory. 100. Sixthly, provision should be made for confirmation by the Security Couhcil, as weil as by the parties concerned, of the powers of the United Nations Chief of Staff and the Mixed Armistice Commission in accordal1ce with the General Armistice Agreement betweel1 Syria and Israel. 101. These requests of the Syrian delegation are. all justified by the provisions of the Armistice Agreement, as well as by the interpretations given by the Acting Mediator, Mr. Bunche, and by the clarification given by the Chief of Staff, General Riley. 102. Article V, sub-paragraph 5 Ce), of the Armistice Agreement empowers the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission "ta authorize the return of civilians to the villages and settlements in the demilitarized zone and the employment· of limited numbers of 10cally recruited civilial1 police in the zone for intemal security purposes ... JJ 103. Article VII, paragraph· 8, charges the Mixed Armistice. Commission with the power of interpreting the mea11lng of any particular provision of the Agreement other than the preamble and articles l and II. Article V, sub-paragraph 5 Cc), holds the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission responsible for ensurïng the full implementation of the article. The 104. The reports of the Chief of Staff show that the Israel authorities are constantly violating these clauses of the Agreement, and especially the policing principle. Our request isthat a decision of the Security Council should confirm and impose respect for this Agreement concluded between Syria and Israel. 105. Before closing, 1 wish to say that 1 have received a statement which my government has instructed me to make at this meeting of the Security Couneil. The statement follGws: "In a manner inconsistent with the Annistice Agreement and in constant defiance ta the admonitions of the United Nations observers, the Israelis continue to attack the Arab inhabitants of the demilitarizec1 zone, expelling them from their villages, demolishing their abodes and leaving them homeless refugees. On 5 May during the night and early in the morning Israel Army traops attackeel the villages falling in the northern sector, using artillery and warplanes, and forced the Arab inhabitants of that area to seek refuge in Syrian territory to avert imminent and certain annihilation aIter they had attempted hope1essly ta defend themselves with weapons and olel rifles. "Moreover, Israel artillery and mortar shells exploded behinel the armistice line within Syrian territory in spite of the manifest restraint on the part of the Syrian Army. The observers of the United Nations, who have already witnessed several flagrant violations of the Armistice Agreement by Israel, are no more able ta perform their duties in the face of the continuons clisregard of their authority. "My government is moved by a S1l1cere desire to respect its obligations unc1er the Armistice Agreemel;t. It has spared no effort in evielencing that deslre to the world. It feels, however, that Israel, in addition ta the unabashecl attitude which it has taken towar~s this q~estio~l, is trying to use the delay of Secunty Councl1 actIOn on om complaint to further its predatary aims and to confront the Council, Syria and the Arab countries concerned with a fait accompli. "The Syrian Government, elesirous as it is of obtaining a decision by the Security Council on its legitimate complaints, finds it extremely difficult to exercise further restraint in face of the hostile and provocative demeanour of Israel and its utter disrega~d . of the obligations. imposed upon it by the Arn:llstlce Agreement. It IS the fervent hope of the SYrIan Government that the Security Council will call a .halt tl? t~ese .aggress!ve actions immediately, and wIll asslst lt wIth an Imperative resolution to maintai.n the .1)eaCe~l1l efforts of m:y government in connexIOn wlth thls very grave sltuation. In the 106. l wish to comment briefly on the draft resolution which is now before the Counci1. l should like ta submit an amendment to it and l hope that one of the members will propose it so that it can be put to the vote. It provides that after the words "cease fighting" the following' be added: "And ta withdraw all military and para-military forces from the dCll1ilitarizec! zone and assure the safe return of all civilian inhabitants to their villages within the demilitarizec1 zone." 3 107. These poor inhabitants are still being kept out of the country. They are asked to remain there and ta keep silent white their homes are stolen froll1 thcm and they are subjected to privation outsic1e. l do not think that it would be just for them so ta remain and ta be orderec1 not to try to do something to protect their rights. 108. vVith respect to the ward "para-military" l think that the Security Council might indicate that the natives of the country should not be considered as paramilitary forces of any nature.

l have no other speakers on my list. There is an amendment to the draft resolution submitted by the delegation of Israel which has been' circulated as doctllllent S/2135. There is now another amendment proposed by the Syrian delegation. In connexion with these amendments, l shollld like ta remind the COL1l1cil of mIe 38 of our provisional mles of procedure: "Any Member of the United Nations invited in accordance with the proceding rule or in application of Article 32 of the Charter to participate in the discussions of the Sewrity Council may submit proposais and draft resolutions. These proposaIs and clraft resolutions may be put to a vote only at request of a representative on the Security Council." Accordingly, these two amendments presentecl by Israel and Syria, respectively, may be put to a vote only at the request of a member of the Secl1rity Counci1. 110. Since there is no request on the part of any member of the Security COltncil for these two amend- Inents to be put to a vote, we shall pass now to a vote on the original joint draft resolution contained in document S/2130.

l should like to ask whether we shaH have the Syrian amendment in writing.

The text will be dis~ tri!mted within a few minutes.

The meeting is suspended for precisely ten minutes. The meeting zuas suspended at 5.45 P;l11,. and fesumed at 6 p.m.

l have the pleasure to announce that both the representative of Israel and the representative of SYrla have declared their willingness to withdraw the amendments which they submitted to the draft resolution. Therefore, the Council will now vote on the joint drait resolution [5/2130]: A vote 'was tal~en by show of hands, as jollows: In javour: "Brazil, China, Ecuador, France, India, Netherlands, Tnrkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia. Abstaining: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

I eaH on the representative of Syria, who wants to make a short statement. 117. Faris EL-KHOURI Bey (Syria): I should like the President to permit me to put it on record that Syria agrees to a cease-fire because Syria did not participate in making fire. The Syrian Army was always out of, and was never implicated in, this matter. Syria has not participated in the fight, and all the reports of the Chief of Staff confinn this. For this reasol'l I should like to put on record that Syria is not concerned by this cease-fire resolution.

The USSR delegation wishes to give a brief explanation of the reasons for its vote. 119. The USSR delegation, believing as it does in peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts between parties, could not but draw attention to the fact that in the resolution submitted to the Security Council there are very important references to a number of previous Security Council resolutions, on which the USSR

l should li1ce to point out that the fact that we have not had the opportunity to add the amendments proposed to ns by the Israel clelegation and the Syriml delegation to the text of the resolution does not mean that we clisapprove of their substance, It is just that it did not seel11 convenient ta add them to our resolution today. It goes without saying that the Mixed Armistice Commission has a continuing authority to deal with these questions and even that it is its dutY to deal with them; and we certainly expect that it will fullil this dutY in the immediate future. 121. The representative of Israel has stressed the French origin of certain anns and munitions which he states were found in the possession of Syrians in the demili.tarized zone.. l do. not know whethel: the representattve of Ismel llltenc1s to clraw conchlSlOns of any kincl from these statements. He has so far drawn no conclusion from them. But the mere fact that he has laid such stress on the French origin of these arms and munitions might lead certain persons to read a meaning into it and to attach importance to it. l do not wish to entertain for a moment the idea that the representative of Isr?-el has insinuated anything whatsoever; that woulel obvlously he intolerable. Further 1 am C'onvinced that the representative of Israel had 'no thouCTht of so doing. b 122. l am equal1y anxious to stress that the origin of the arms, in the case with which we are concerned, has ~bsolutely no significance. One would have to be whol1y Ignorant of the Near East to be unaware of the fact that arms anel munitions of every make are founcl everywhere in that area. Consequently 110 significance shoulel be attached to this fact. 123. Fi~al1y, 1 should Iike, before we adjonrn, to ask the PreSident whether We sha1l have an opportunity ta h~ar General Riley again. At our last meeting l askeel Imll a number of questions and l should like him to answer them.

1 wish to give an assurance that the interpretation which the representative of France pla~ed on my remarks is a correct one; namely, !hat we l~e~ther ascribe nor see the slightest significance 111 the 0l"1g111 of the weapons to which l referrecl. It was in oreler to give a concrete impression of the evidence fOlmd on the scene and ta avoid any accusation of vagueness that l was instructed to enumerute the details of ail the objects founel, their manufacture, their nUl11bers, their calibre, their type and their identification - in a purely factual spirit. 125. l fully agree that anus are legitilllately purchased in many States, and my government has valued its 0lJportunities of improving its equipment both civilian and military by purchases in France as in other

In the course of my brief intervention l ventured to address a question to General Riley concerning the United Nations observers in Palestine [544th meet,ing]. l asked him whether he was satisfied that they were adequate in numbers and, if he was not satisfied, what he recol11l11ended. :r do not know whether General Riley would see fit to reply to that particular question now.

l think that the proper course ta pursue would be to continue the meeting for a few minutes for the purpose of hearing the replies of the General ta the questions put to him during the previous meeting by the representatives of the United Kingdom and of France. l have been infonned that General Riley is leaving on Friday, and l feel that it is appropriate for him ta do sa that he may be on the spot as soon as possible. In these circul11stances, if there is no objection on the part of the Council, l shall ask General Riley to reply ta the questions to which l have referred. 128. Since there are no objections, l calI upon General Riley to reply tathe questions put to hil11 by the representative of France and the representative of the United Kingdol11, in that arder, during our previous meeting. 129. Major General RILEY (Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization): In replying ta the questions which were put to me by the representative of France, l shall take them in the order in which they were posed. Before 1 reply l would say that 1 have received l11Y folder from Jerttsalem containing my mel110randull1 dated 15 November 1949. l use this to bring out the point that at that time we were considering the question of the Humber, both of Israelis and of Arab refugees, of those who had occupied land and villages in the demilitarized zone prior to 14 May 1949, who were to be returned to the zone. In the negotiations it was agreed by both sides that the number of Arab refugees and the number of Israelis that returned to the zone would equal that of those who had occupied and worked land and lived in the zone prior to 14 May 1948. We therefore took those figures at the time we prepared this table. The Syrian de1egation desired that we should go back to the original census of 14 May 1948 and allow only the inhabitants by name to return to the zone. It would have been impossible for us to carry that out. l therefore asked for and received assurances from both parties that we would go by the llllmber of Arabs and the number of Israelis who were in the zone prior to the givell date. 130. For the Arabs in the central zone, which covered four villages, the total lllullber before 14 May 1948 was 1,830. At the time my paperwas prepared, we estimated that 1,610 Arabs would return to the zone. 1 Lake Huleh, 80; and a new co10ny west of Mishmar, O. That made a total of 680. From a discussion of the matter with the Israel delegation, we estimated that Israel anticipated in the near future returning 250 to Mishmar Village, 30 to Dardara, and 120 to the new colony west of Mishmar - or a total of 400. This pertains to the central sector only. 131. On the basis of a report dated 5 May 1951, there are 870 Arabs remaining in the villages in the central sector. ' 132. l have a record of two villages in the central sector which were destroyed. Baqqara was completely razed to the ground and the village of Ghanname was destroyed. The Arabs from the villages of El Hamma, Baqqara and Khoury Farm were taken to Sha'ab, near Acre, in Israel territory. Women and chidren from Ein Gev have 1110ved ta the mountains near the Syrian border. In the case of Samra, there is no definite information at present as ta the whereabouts of the population. 133. At the time of the signing of the Armistice Agreement there were few if any Arab refugees living in that zone. There were few if any Israe1is living in the zone except for the military groups that were in Dm'dara and in the Ein Gev settlement. Many inhabitants of the Ein Gev settlement remained throughout; l believe the women and children haclleft and did Ilot return until after the signing of the Armistice Agreement. 134. At the present time, with the evacuation or transfer of the ,Arabs from that zone, it will be necessary at some time or other ta revert, ta the Armistice Agreement and again look ta the normal restoration of civilian life. 135. l believe that answers the request of the representative of France.

l thank General Riley.

If General Riley wonld be wil.ling ta answer the question put by the representatlve of the United Kingdom, it wonld finish today's business. 138. Major. SJenera! RILEY: At the height of the truee. s~tperVlslOn WhlC~1 ended after the signing of the AnmstIce Agreement 111 November 1948, l had some 525 observers from France, Belgium and the United States, together with a number of Swedish officers who had been assigned ta the supervision organization under (ount Bernadotte. They did not leave ltntil the middle of November in 1948. 1 have reduced the number of observers as the situation has permitted. Under the tenns of the Armistice Agreement the observers wode 139. Under article VII of the Armistice Agreement, the Chief of Staff appoints the chainnan of each mixed armistice commission; he is a deputy of the Chief of Staff and carries on the work of the chairman under the general supervision of the Chief of Staff. This officer is a part of the, mixed armistice commission. The commission comprises a chail'man, two members on the Israel side and two members on the Arab side. In the case of the Egyptian Mixed Armistice Commission, there happen to be three representatives on each side, plus the chairman. In addition to the chairman the observers aré assigned to the various mixed armistice commissions by the Chief of Staff. They are on loan from what is termed his Truce Supervision Organization. The officers that are so assigned cannot arbitrarily go out to check and look for complaints or violations of armistice agreements. Those armistice agreements are between the parties themse1ves. The observers are there to assist in the checking of complaints that are submitted to the mixed armistice commission by either party, and a decision is made at that time whether they should go out and investigate alone or whether there is mutual agreement that they may go out with representatives of both sides; or they may go out with representatives of one side, but there must always be a United Nations observer. 140. For that reason l have reduced the number that l consider necessary in that area. There are times when l wish l had more; there are many times when l do not need what l have; but l have set the figure at thirty. Neither the Secretary-General nor the United Nations has caused me to reduce the figure to that l1lunber. l reduced it because l feIt that the situation justified such reduction. Recently l had asked for five more, l had gone below the thirty and found that it was not sufficient. There was no need at that time on the part of the United Nations to make available to me additional observers. Under the present circumstances it appears that we might need more in the demilitarized zone, but l should prefer to wait and see what l need after l return to Palestine. For the present l do not think that we should put observers in the field to look for complaints or violations if the parties themselves will act in good faith and use the machinery that we have in the Mixed Armistice Commission through the General Armistice Agreement. 141. l say that l can get along with the observers l have, but l do appreciate the assurance that, in case of needJ l can call for additional observers and that the Security Council is willing to find the money to make such a supply possible. The meet'ing rose at 6.32 p.rn. SALES AGENTS fOR UNITED DEPOSITAIRES DES PUBliCATIONS " !1 FINLAND - FINLANDE Akateeminen Klrlakauppa, katu, Helsinki. FRANCE Editions A. Pedone, Paris V. GREECE - GRECE "Eleftheroudakis," nale, Place de la GUATEMALA Gouba\Jd & Ciao nllm. 28, 2 do Piso HAITI Ma. Bouchereau, .elle!' Boîte postale Prince. HONDURAS L1brerla Panamericaiia, Fuente, Tegucigalpa. ICELAND -ISLANDE Bokaverzlun Siglusar Austurstreti lB, INDIA"':'INDE Oxford Book & House, New Delhi. INDONESIA - Jajasan Pemban9unan, 84, Djakarta. IRAQ-IRAK Mackenzie', Bookshop, Stationero, Baghdad. IRAN Ketab.Khaneh Avenue, Teheran. IRELAND -IRLANDE Hibernian General cial Buildings, Dame ISRAEL Leo Blumstein, 35 Allenby Road, ITALY- ITALIE Colibri S.A., Via LEBANON - LIBAN Librairie universelle, LIBERIA J. Momolu Kamarà, Streets, Monrovia. LUXEMBOURG Librairie J. Schummer, Luxembourg. MEXICO - MEXIQUE Editorial Hermes, cal 41, Mexico, NETHERLANDS N.V. Martlnus 9, 's-Gravenhage. NEW ZEALAND- NOUVELLE·ZELAN United NatIons land, G.p.a. 10U, NICARAGUA Dr. Ramiro Ramlrez Publlcaciones, ARGENTI NA - ARGENTINE Editorial Sudamericana S.A., Calle Alslna 500, Buenos Aires. AUSTRALIA - AUSTRALIE H, A. Goddard (Pty.l, Ltd., 255a George Street, Sydney, N.S.W•. BELGIUM -'- BELGIQUE Agence et Messageries de la Presse S.A., 14·22 rue du Persil, BruxeHes. W. H. Smith & Son 71·75 Boulevard Adolphe·Max, Bruxelles. BOLIVIA - BOLIVIE lIbrerla Clentffica y L1te,aria, Avenlda 1o de Julio 21o, Casllia 972, La Paz BRAZIL - BRESIL Livrarla Agir, Rua Mexico 98·B, Caixa Postal 3291, Rio de Janeiro. CANADA - CANADA . The Ryerson Press, 299 Queen Street West, Toronto. CEYLON - CEYLAN The Associated Newspaper, 01 Ceyl.on, lId., Lake House, Colombo. CHILE - CHILI Llbrerla Ivens, Calle Moneda 822, Santiago. CHINA - CHINE The Commercial Press, Ltd., 211 Honan Road, Shanghai. COL.OMBIA - COLOMBIE Librerla Latina Ltda., ApartadoAéreo 4011, Bogotâ. costA RICA - COSTA.RICA Trejos Hermanos, Apartado 1313, San José. CUBA • La Casa Belga, RenE de Smedt, D'Reilly 455, La Habana. UECHOSLOVAKIA - TCHECOSLOVAQUIE Ceskoslovensky Spisovatel NArodnll1rda 9, Praha 1. DENMAllK - DANEMARK Einar Munksgaard, N_rregade 6, K_benhavn; DOMINICAN REPUBLlC- REPUBLIQUE DDMINICAINE Lib",ia Dominic_na, Calle Mercedes No. 49, Apartado &5&, Ciudad Trujillo. ECUADOR,- EQUATEUR Munoz Hermanos y Cla., Plaza deI Teatro, Quito. EGYPT - EGYPTE. Librairie "La Renaissance d'Egypte/' 9 SH. Adly ~asha, Cairo. EL SALVADOR-SALVADOR . Manuel Navas y Cla. "La Casa dei L1bro Barato" la Avenida ,ur num. 37, San Salvador. EiHIOPIA - ETHIOPIE Agence Ethiopienne de Publicité, Box B, Addis-Abeba. United N"tlon. public"tlon. c,," further be obtGlned 'rom the 'ol/owlog booheJlers: GERMANY- ALLEMAGNE AUSTRIA - AUTRICHE Buchhandlung Elwert & Meure" Haupt.' B. Wüllerstorff, strasse, 101, Berlln-Schoneberg. Salzburg. W. E•. Saarbach, Frankenstrasse, 14, KOin-Junkersdorl. JAPAN - JAPON Alexander Horn, Spil!gelgasse, 9, Maruzen Co., ltd., Wiesbaden. Nihonbashl, Tokyo Ordo.. and inquiriosfrom countries whero salos agonts ha.vo not yot bun appoinlod may bo sent to: Salos and Circulation Soction, United Nations, New York. U.S.A.; or Sale. Section, United Nations Office, Palais des Nations, Gonova, Swltzerland. Printed in Canada Priee: 30 (or equivalent