S/PV.698 Security Council

The Council has before it today the report General Burns [S/3390 al.d S/3390/Add. 1] for which adjourned on 6 April. My delegation has carefully studied that document, and has been pleased to find in it the same objectivity and c1arity which distinguished the General's previous report [S/3373]. 103. The conclusion to which we are led by our is that the facts which the Chief of Staff describes report do not call for any further positive action Council. The situation he depicts and its development since 30 March 1ast seem to us to he covered by the resolution unanimously adopted on that date by the Council [S/3379]. We should, in my opinion, be adding nothing to the force or value of that resolution by solemnly affirming its terms. We consider that its observance the two parties would suffice very largely to diminish the ~r· >n :ls Ile :f. la er Ilr lIt Ilt If ci in 105. Both infiltration and mine laying which the Egyptian authorities are In the opinion of my delegation, heavier in the latter instance than tration may to some extent be explained by the situation of the individual refugees While it entails a number ofserious risks, it does not necessarily seriously endanger human life same is not true ofmine laying. This is an operation which requires the concerted action of a number and their training to perform it. It imagined without sorne complicity, lack of control and supervision, on the dinate authorities. Lastly and above is a direct and deliberate attack upon who are exposed to it; and indeed Commission has found that in numerous attacks have resulted in the des.ruction and in the death and wounding ofIsrael soldiers, and it has consequently condemned them. 106. These are serious and inexcusable they continued, the Council would formally. The Council cannat ignore both these factors-infiltration and are responsible for the present tension been denounced by General Burns. particular, continued at the same rate we should seriously have to consider should take in consequence of the sible authorities to put an end to it. 107. The French delegation feels that not examine or discuss in detail the tioned in General Burns' report and additions thereto. The Mixed Armistic,. Commission has ruled on each of them; we can do decisions which the Commission alone take. 108. There has been a happy innovation ta the wishes expressed last month in the Security Council: the scope of some of these decisions is us by accompanying comments from the Chairman Commission. In any event, the condemn, as the Commission has done, mines torités le ma edans ertain fugiés ésente :ément spour poses action lent à Ill. Sir Pierson DIXON (United Kingdom): report from General Burns dated 14 April 1955 to which he submitted an addendum yesterday Add.l], is a most valuable report which 1 am further enhance the confidence which the Council in the Chief of Staff of the Truce Supervision nization. 112. When 1 proposed the adjournment on l addressed an earnest appeal to the Governments Egypt and Israel for the greatest vigilance and so that the short interval in our work would marred on either side by acts which could only passions and render still more difficult the which we have entrusted the Chief of Staff. 1 am note from General Burns' report that, although there one serious and regrettable incident on 9 April, seems to have been a decided improvement demarcation tine. tS une défaut torités visent lsésnstaté ltériel et les lue le le pas effet, :miers : les a :s, en l'elles nous 113. This report from the Chief of Staff describes various incidents which have occurred since the Gaza on 28 February 1955 and the decisions taken Mixed Armistice Commission. There seems to doubt that there was increased tension all demarcation tine during the period covered reports, and that this may" have been largely General Burr.s points out [8/3390, para. 25], to aroused by ~he Gaza incident. ~sures orités onnés "es et qu'il ils,ni s'est " que seule, 114. The most serious feature of this situation the series of clashes which took place between forces of either side, particularly the incident at Nahal on 3 April 1955, which had the character of military skirmish. Although resolutions condemnatory both sides were passed by the Mixed Armistice sion [8/3390, annex, decisions Nos. 10 and vœux lortée enant ~ident as, le Cornapparent from the Chairman's explanations 116. Happily, there is no evidence to suggest Egyptian Government approved these activities connived at them. Nevertheless, on any assumption, was clearly the responsibility of the Government administering the Gaza strip to take effective measures stop to them. 117. Such activities, by whomsoever committed, only ilIegal in themselves and violations of the Armistice Agre~ment, but are also highly provocative lethal. They are therefore far more serious, both purpose and in their effect, than any infringements armistice agreement which may be committed by infiltrators who cross the border for one reason 118. Like previous speakers, 1 also have General Burns has suggested that the actions Egypt has been condemned may be due to retaliations by military or civilian personnel in area. This may weIl be the case, but of course excuse. The whole principle of retaliation is has already been clearly condemned by the Council. 119. The fact that the Security Council in its of 29 March 1955 [S/3378] condemned the action of 28 February does not justify illegal actions other side of the demarcation lïne. On the contrary, very fact that the Security Council took such action after the Gaza incident, including the passage resolution asking General Burns to take aIl practical steps to preserve security in the area, irresponsible activities described in the report us ail the more deplorable. Two members of the have already expressed themselves in similar terms will, 1 feel sure, prove to be the general sentiment Council that such activities are reprehensible be suppressed. 120. We certainly cannot neglect the following warning given by General Burns ~ " If the situation to continue to deteriorate, such actions must be by Egypt, and, on the other hand, Israel forces avoid any provocation or actions which might mately cause Egyptian forward troops to fear [S/3390, para. 25]. 124. The representative of Israel had litde to tell us in his speech this afternoon about this aspect ofthe question or the implementation of the Security Couneil resolution of 30 March 1955. It would have been helpful to us to hear the latest news of his Government's response to General Burns' proposaIs. But since the aim of the Security Council and of General Burns is to reduce tension aH along the demarcation line, 1 cannot for a moment believe that full co-operation will not be forthcoming from the Government of Israel. 125. 1 welcome the attitude of the Egyptian authorities as revealed in the letter of 16 April 1955 to General Burns [8/3393], which indicates that they are prepared to go further, in respect of on·e of General Burns' proposaIs -and an important one-than was known at the time of the General's report. It is also satisfactory to note that the Egyptian authorities have requested the posting of additional United Nations observers in positions on the Egyptian side of the demarcation line. 1 am sure that their presence there will materially help in preventing further incidents of the kind we have been considering. 126. AIl this is welcome news, but there is still much to he done. So far, apart from the posting ofthese additional observers, the Chief of Staff's proposaIs are still at the stage of discussion between General Burns and each of the two parties separately. Further efforts are still required to put these proposaIs, and any other practical proposaIs that may be suggested, into effect. 127. 1 know that General Burns can be counted upon to persevere with his efforts. We look to the Governments of Egypt and Israel likewise to co-operate with him, so that the various practical measures proposed for preserving security in the area may be introduced as soon as possible. 128. The aim of these efforts must be strict compliance by both parties with the General Armistice Agreement and absolute security for the inhabitants on either side of the demarcation line. To judge from the attitude of the 130. Mr. NISOT (Belgium) (translated jrom On 6 April, the Security Council adjourned allow the Mixed Armistice Commission to reach sion. We now have before us a report by Staff of the Truce Supervision Organization S/3390/Add.l]. In that report, the Chief of Staff informs us ofthe resolutions of the Mixed Armistice Commission, comments upon them, and draws generaI from them. 131. A number of resolutions were adopted, proposed by Egypt aad others by Israel. That is the usual procedure. The Commission's resolutions form and substance from drafts prepared by These drafts are put to the vote. The Chairman Commission takes part in the voting. Being an authority with powers of investigation, whether the aileged acts have actually occurred whether the proposed assessment of them is justified. also exercises a moderating influence, which the parties' presentation of their cases. Furthermore, when the Commission's decisions concern of principle, they are subject to review by committee. Thus the parties have very extensive ofappeal, since the assessment ofthe facts for of apportioning responsibility very often involves tions of principle. 132. White this machinery has not always settlement of situations, it has always ensured elucidation. By showing where the parties rights, the Mixed Armistice Commission acts brake and as a safety valve. In this respect, its functions must not be underestimated. regretted, however, that the Commission has greater use of its powers of mediation. The true, is easy neither for Egypt nor for Israel. The difficulty ofreaching a settlement is proportionate to the complexity of the problems. The problem~ confronting States are ofmassive proportions. Il is not at ail surprising that their solution is arduous. 133. Il is not with such solutions, however, at present concerned. Acts are being committed sides which call for censure. Frontier incidents increasing in number: they serve no one's interests; give rise to serious tension; they discredit both The immediate cause of this state of affairs is well known: it is the penetrability of the demarcation Hne, with which it can at present be crossed. It in the power of the parties to remedy that situation, to do so without in any way prejudicing their positions of principle. That is the o~iect of the resolution 136. This does not mean that the actions for which Egypt has been held responsible àre in any way justified. Indeed, it is difficult to escape the suspicion that sorne of these actions, involving as they do the misuse of military weapons and training, are the consequence, if not of connivance, then at least of lack ofzeal, on the part of the local Egyptian military authorities. Unless this state of atrairs is quickly corrected, a further deterioration in an already serious situation is only too likely. It is certainly true that a series ofsuch incidents must have a cumulative effect, even if one does not agree that the responsibility is all on one side. A necessary first step in correcting this situation, in our view, is for both parties promptly to carry out General Burns' recommendation that local commanders be made responsible for preventing hostile and provocative acts. 137. The representative of Israel has asked for further action by the Council. After reading General Burns' report, my delegation has come to the conclusion that it wouid not be useful or appropriate for the Council to attempt to draw up a balance sheet ofthe incidents which it records. The Council has, in the pasto been obliged to 140. At the moment, representatives on the do no more, 1 think, than stress the need for each party use the utmost restraint and to co-operate the Chief of Staff. The speed with which reached will depend entirely on the sense which Egypt and Israel bring to their talks Burns. Neither of the parties can afford further 1 J1 11 141. The PRESIDENT (trans/ated jrom should like to make a few remarks as the of the UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST 142. Members are aware that the Security carried out in March a very detailed examination complaints lodged with the Council by Egypt concerning frontier incidents near the demarcation particularly the serious incident which occurred Gaza strip on 28 February 1955. 143. On 29 and 30 March, the Security mously adopted two resolutions [5/3378 intended to promote a peaceful settlement questions arising near the demarcation Hne, cating the steps to be taken to prevent incidents. But the events which have taken place near the demarcation Hne since the Security Council the complaints have shown that neither directly concerned-Egypt and Israel-has necessary steps for the strict implementation Security Council resolutions. 147. The letter from the representative of Egypt dated 18 April 1955 [8/3393] indicates such readiness. This letter states that the Egyptian authorities intend to carry out a number of practical measures along the demafcation line which will certainly help to prevent frontier incidents. 148. The fact that both sides have expressed their readiness to co-operate gives us hope that, in the future, the Israel and Egyptian authorities, in accordance with the Security Council's resolutions, will endeavour to bring about conditions precluding any repetition of such deplorable incidents, which cannot but increase tension along the demarcation line. In the opinion of the Soviet Union delegation, the resolutions unanimously adopted by the Security Council in March constitute a sound enough basis for the settlement of disputes arising near the demarcation line between Egypt and Israel, and the prevention of frontier incidents. 149. Speaking as PRESIDENT, 1 would say that understand from the comments made by members of Security Council that it is the consensus ofopinion that present there is no need for any new action by Council on the question under discussion, inasmuch the facts brought to the Council's notice and the possible measures to avert incidents along the demarcation between Egypt and Israel are fully covered in the resolutions adopted by the Council in March. 150. 1 trust that 1 shall he expressing the general view of the members of the Council if 1 appeal to both sides -the Governments of Egypt and Israel-to do everything in their power to give full effect to the Security Council's resolutions of 29 and 30 March aimed at averting frontier incidents. To achieve that purpose 1 urge them to operate sincerely with one another, in the certainty , this will help to improve the general situation along demarcation line. BOLIVIA - BOuvm: Librerla Sclecciones, Empn:sa Editora .. La RazlIn", Casilla 972, LaPa. 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