Middle East - Press Releases, Notes to Correspondents, Messages and Reports

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ntte |tems-in-Peace-keeping operations - Middle East - press releases, notes to correspondents, messages and reports

Date Created 13/05/1967

Record Type Archival Item

Container S-0861 -0006: Peace-Keeping Operations Files of the Secretary-General: U Thant: Middle East

Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.I. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/710 13 May 1967

STATEMENT REGARDING REPORTS EMANATING FROM ISRAEL

The following statement was issued today by a United Nations spokesman:

"in reply to questions regarding the reports emanating from Israel on contemplated use of force against Syria, a United Nations spokesman said today that the Secretary-General has expressed very serious concern over such reports. He pointed out that the Secretary-General's answer to a question raised at the United Nations Correspondents Association luncheon on Thursday, 11 May, cannot be interpreted as condoning resort to force by any party. The Secretary-General reiterates his appeal to all parties to observe the Armistice Agreements."

# #** * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF Dtt'OBMA.TION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD) Press Release SG/SM/711* EMF/Ml6 20 May 196?

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE TO THE COMMANDER OF UNEF

Following is the text of a message sent on 19 May by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to Major General I.J. Rikhye, Cozncauder of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) :

"Today, 19 May 1967, when the withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force from Gaza and Sinai is beginning, I am sending you this personal message. Your connexion with UNEF goes "back to the early days of its existence when you served most ably as its first Chief of Staff and as things have turned out you have also served as its last Commander. You, therefore, know as well as anyone what the Force has achieved and what it has meant not only in terms of the maintenance of peace and quiet in its area of operation, but also in terms of the broader concept of the capacity of the United Nations to maintain peace. You have served the cause of UNEF and the United Nations most devotedly at various times during the past ten years, and I know that the withdrawal of UNEF must be a correspondingly heavy blow for you personally. You have handled the very delicate situation of the last few days with great skill and firmness and you will, I know, conduct the withdrawal of the Force with equal ability. Please accept my warm appreciation for your most distinguished service as Commander of UNEF and my personal good wishes."

« UNITED NATIONS * Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF mroRMATiON MEDIA — NOT AH OFFICIAL RECORD) Press Release SG/SM/715 EMF/1A7 20 May 196?

SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MESSAGE TO ALL OFFICERS AND MSN OFUNEF

Following is the text of a message sent on 19 May "by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to all officers and nen of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF):

"Today, 19 May 19^7 j you will have received orders to commence the withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force from its area of operation in Gaza and Sinai. This means that within a relatively short space of time you will be returning to your home countries, and UNEF, the first peace-keeping force of the United Nations, will no longer exist. First of all, I wish to make it entirely clear that the withdrawal of UNEF at this time for overriding political reasons is in no sense the smallest reflection upon the performance or the behaviour of the Force. On the contrary, the Force has operated with outstanding success ever since the time of its establishment more than ten years ago, and the recent months have been no exception to this very fine record. In my special report of 18 May 1967 to the General Assembly on the decision to withdraw UNEF, I said the following: "'Finally, I must express the highest appreciation to the Governments of all the Members of the United Nations which have supported UNEF and especially to those which have provided the military contingents which made up the Force. The appreciation of the United Nations is also due to the many thousand officers and men who have served so loyally and with such distinction in UNEF. The Force at Its inception represented an extraordinary innovation in the efforts of the world community to find improved methods of keeping the peace. For more than ten years it has fulfilled its functions with a far greater degree of success than could have been hoped for. It is, in fact, tlte model upon which many hopes for the future effectiveness of the United Nations in peace keeping have been based.' (more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/715 EMF/W7 20 May 196?

"The very anxiety throughout the world which the termination of IMSF at this particular time raises is in itself a measure of the value of the service which UHEF has performed. UiJGF by its conduct and the successful discharge of a very difficult task has certainLy proved that -che pioneering task of peace keeping undertaken by the United Nations in 1956 has never suffered from a lack of skilled, courageous, disciplined and devotee* soldiers of peace. "I wish to express to all of ycu. and also to the many thousands of officers and men who have served at ot:: or tines i,i UM3F, my warm appreciation and admiration for your loyal and disj:ir.gv.i£!."..ed service to the United Nations. I extend to all of you my best vrlshas for the future. "

TV 7v"rt"vfr UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Hations, N.Y. (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/16U 20 May 1967

SEGRETARY-GEI'JERAL _TO_ VISIT CAIRO

A United Nations spokesman today made the following announcement:

"As already announced, the Secretary-General was planning a trip to the Middle East, including a visit to the United Nations Emergency Force in Gaza and thereafter to Cairo towards the end of June and the beginning of July. In the present circumstances he has decided to advance his journey by a few weeks, and he will accordingly be leaving for Cairo on the evening of Monday, 22 May."

* UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/165 23 May 1967

SECRETARY-GENERAL ARRIVES IN CAIRO

(The following was received, froja a United Nations Information Officer accompanying the Secretary-General.)

The Secretary-General, U Thant, and party arrived in Cairo today at 5 p.m. (local time). He wrs met at the airport by Mahmoud Riad, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Republic; General Indar Jit Rikhye, Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force: General Odd Bull, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine; Laurence Michelmore, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugess in the Near East, and other United Nations officials. The Secretary-General and party are staying at the Nile Hilton Hotel, as the guests of the Government of the United Arab Republic. U Thant was scheduled to confer -with General Rikhye at his suite tonight, and has invited General Rikhye, General Odd Bull, and Mr. Michelmere for a working dinner. No other appointments were scheduled tonight, U Thant will call on Mr. Riad tompijrow morning at 10:00 a.m. (local time) at the latter?B office, En route to Cairo, the Secretary-General was greeted in Paris by Guy de Lacharriere,, Director of United Nations Affairs at the French Foreign Office, and ¥, Gibson Parker, Director of the United Kntions Information Centre in Faris. In Rome, he conferred at the airport with Amintore Fanfani, Foreign Minister of Italy. The Secretary-General made no statements to the press.

# #** * UNITED w A T i o SA s Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/166 2k May 1967

HOLDS TALKS IN CAI2Q WITH HJRSIGN MINISTER 0? UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC

(The following was received from a United Nations Information Officer accompanying the Secretary-General.)

The Secretary-General, U Thant, met this morning with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Republic, Mahmoud Riad, for two-and-a-half hours, from 9:40 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., local time. They exchanged views on several aspects of the situation in the Middle East. Major General Indar Jit Rikhye, Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), took part in the talks. At 2:30 p.m. the Secretary-General attended a lunch given in his honour by the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Republic at the Tahrir Club. Also attending the lunch were the Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, Manmoud Fawzi; high officials of the Foreign Office; General Odd Bull; Coumauder of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO); General Rikhye; Laurence Michelmore, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UMRWA); the Resident Representative in Cairo of the United Nations Develop- ment Programme (UNDP), Vojko P. Pavicic; and members of the Secretary-General's party. At 8:00 p.m. the Secretary-General is dining with the President of the United Arab Republic, Gamal Abdel Nasser, at the latter's residence. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, Itf.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/167 2k May 1967

HOLDS TAIgS INCAIRO WITH PRESIDENT OF UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC

(The following was received from a United Nations Information Officer accompanying the Secretary-General.)

The Secretary-General, U Thant, tonight attended a working dinner given by the PresKent of the United Arab Republic, Gamal Abdel Nasser, at the latter's residence in Cairo. The dinner c.nd talks lasted three hours. The discussions covered in general terms the current situation in the Middle East, and were conducted in a very cordial atmosphere. In the course of the talks, President Nasser asked the Secretary-General and the Coiaiar.r.der of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF), Major General IncTar Jit Rikhye, to convey his sincere thanks and appreciation regarding tho vor-x of UN3F. Others f.n t-J1^ small group- et the dinner were Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Afia^'is, MaljEoud Fawzi; ths Foreign Minister, Kahmoud Riadj, and General Ril-Jn;/^.

* *** * UNITED NATIONS r Press Services Office of Public Information United Katioas, N.Y.. (FOR USE OF IHFOBMATION MEDIA. — SOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/72^ SC/2894 5 June 1967

TEXT OF STATEMENT H. SECRMMMMaALtJP 5'HAKT; IM SECURITY CQIMCIL OH 5 JUHE 196?

Following is the text of the statement by the Secretary-General, 0 Thant, in the Security Council on 5 Jy&e

"Mr. President, "In response to your invitation I present to the Council all information that I have received from United Nations sources in the Wear East on the outbreak of hostilities. Of course, United Nations sources have no means of ascertaining how the fighting started. As usual , reports coming from the parties are conflicting, hut all agree that serious military action on land and in the air is taking place at a number of points and is spreading. "I have instructed "both the Chief of Staff, IMESO, and Commander, UNEF, to keep reporting urgently all information available to them and I shall keep members of the Council informed as new information comes in. This information is unavoidably fragmentary. "As far as information from UHEF is concerned, it must be remembered that UNEF is no longer on the Line,, but is concentrated in its camps and is in the process of withdrawal. The information given by the Commander of UNEF is therefore, of necessity, somewhat general, and much of it has been given to the Commander by the United Arab Republic Liaison service in Gaza. "General Rikhye, Commander of UNSF, reported that at 0800 hours ('-local time) today two Israel aircraft violated United Arab Republic airspace over Gaza town* One of these aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and fell into the sea. The pilot bailed out and was picked up by a motor launch. Also at 0800 hours'' (local time) two Israel aircraft violated United Arab Republic airspace over El Arish and were fired on by anti-aircraft guns.

(more ) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/7214- 5 June 1967

The United Arab Republic claims one Israel aircraft was shot down. UHEF personnel in Rafah Camp reported heavy firing between United Arab Republic and Israel forces across the International Frontier south of :";afah, starting at 0800 hours (local'time). United Arab Republic authorities in Gaza informed General Rikhye of a large-ecale Israel air raid throughout the United Arab Republic including a raid on Cairo. I am informed that Israel has denied the report of the raid on Cairo. The United Arab Republic authorities also informed General Rikhye that at 0800 hours (local time) Israel forces had attacked El Quseima in Sinai. At 0915 hours (local time), United Arab Republic artillery in Gaza started firing towards Israel-controlled territory. Firing stopped at 0950 hours (local time), but resumed again at 1000 hours (local time). The Commander of UNEF is taking all possible steps to ensure the security of UNEF personnel still in the area. "General Bull, Chief of Staff, UTOSO, has informed me that firing in Jerusalem commenced at 1125 hours (local time) and was continuing. General Bull requested an immediate cease fire at the highest local levels. The Senior Jordanian Delegate to the Mixed Armistice Commission accepted a cease fire for 1200 hours (local time). In a meeting between General Bull and the Israel authorities on the morning of 5 June, General Bull was informed that United Arab Republic planes had crossed the border and tha-fe Israel aircraft had been sent to meet them. "At 11^5 hours (local time), Israel informed General Bull of its acceptance of his request for a cease-fire at 1200 hours (local time). Most firing had ceased by 1210 hours (local time), although a few mortar rounds continued to be fired from Jordan and near Mount Scopus. One mortar round landed in the Government House compound, which is the headquarters of TJNTSO. Ho casualties are reported. "Since sporadic mortar firir.g from Jordan continued after the cease-fire, a second cease-fire was proposed for 1230 hours (local time) and accepted by both sides. On the Israel-Syria ADL (Armistice Demarcation line), United Nations Military Observers reported overflights by Syrian jet fighters between 1155 hours and 1206 aours (local time) on 5 June and reported air battles, anti- aircraft fire and explosions from aircraft -bombing. The Senior Israel Delegate (more) - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/72^ SO/2894 5 June 196? to the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission informed the UHTSO officer in charge at Tiberias at 1218 hours (local time) that Israel considered her- self in a state of war with Syria. The Chairman of the IsraeJ-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission reported that Damascus airport was being attacked by Israel aircraft at 1110 hours (local time). "The Commander of UNEF reported that at 12^5 hours (local time) Israel artillery opened fire on two camps of the Indian Contingent of UEEF which were in process of being abandoned, and soon thereafter United Arab Republic tanks surrounded one of the camps which still contains one reduced Indian company. Orders have been gives for the Indian personnel in both camps to be withdrawn immediately. "General Rikhye also reported that a UHEF convoy immediately south of Khan Tunis on the road between Gaza and Rafah was strafed by an Israel aircraft on the morning of 5 June, although the vehicles, like all UWEF vehicles, are painted white. First reports indicate that three Indian soldiers were killed and an unknown number wounded in this attack. The Commander of IMEF has sent an urgent message through the Chief of Staff, UHTSO, to the Chief of Staff of Israel Defence Force urging him again 'to give orders to Israel Armed Forces to refrain from firing on UMEF camps, buildings and vehicles. "After hostilities began on the morning of 5 June, the Chief of Staff, UMTSO, drew the attention of Israel and Jordan to the inviolability of the Government House area and asked them to ensure that this inviolability was fully respected. Both sides gave him the required assurance. However, at 1330 hours (local time) today, approximately one company of Jordanian soldiers occupied the garden of the Government House. General Bull in person protested to the Commander and asked him to withdraw his troops. He also protested in the strongest terms to the Senior Jordan Delegate of the Israel-ffordan Mixed Armistice Commission against the violation of United Nations premises by Jordanian soldiers, whose withdrawal within half-an-hour he demanded. He also informed the Israel authorities of these developments and requested them to ensure that Israel soldiers would not enter the Government House area.

(more) - U - Press Release SG/SM/72^ 5 June 1967

By then, an exchange of fire had already begun between the Jordanian soldiers in the Government House garden and Israel soldiers nearby. General Bull later informed me by an emergency message that Jordanian troops had not withdrawn and were demanding to enter Government House itself and had demanded that no telephone calls be made from Government House. Firing was continuing and mortar shells were now landing within the Governm-rot House compound. United Nations Headquarters lost radio contact with UMTSO headquarters in Jerusalem at 0852 hours (New York time), at which time, Jordan troops occupied Government House. This also means that United Nations Headquarters has lost direrb contact with Headquarters UNEF, whose messages are routed throu-2'-1. TTNTSO. "In view of these developments, I have addressed the following urgenb appeal to the King of Jordan: "'His Majesty "'King Hussein "'Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 11 * Amman, Jordan "'Your Majesty, "'I have just been advised at 0900 hours local time that all communications with Government House have ended because of its occupation by Jordanian troops. This is a breach of extreme seriousness. I appeal to Your Majocty with utmost urgency to order the immediate removal of Jordanian troops from the grounds and buildings of the Government House compound in Jerujaleru As Your Majesty knows, this compound has been respected by both parties to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission as the headquarters of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization and therefore under the exclusive United Nations occupation and control.

'"U Thant "'Secretary-General of the United Nations'"

* #•»# # UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, S.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT. M OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release .SG/SM/725 5 June .1.967

REPLY BY CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JO SECRETARy -GENERAL .REGARDING CANADA'S CONTRIBUTION TO pE£F

Following is the text of a reply by the Prime Minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson, to the Secretary -General, U Thant, as forwarded today by the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, George Ignatieff :

"New York, June 5, "Dear Mr. Secretary-General, "The Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honorable Lester B. Pearson, has asked me to- convey to you the following reply to the message you sent to him on May 30 expressing your appreciation of Canada's contribution to the United Nations Emergency Force: 'Mr. Secretary -General, 'Thank you for the warm 'message you sent me expressing appreciation to the Government and people of Canada, and particularly to the Canadian officers and men who served in the United Nations Emergency Force, for the contribution Canada has made over the years to that peace keeping force. 'Successive Canadian Governments, the people of Canada and Canada's armed forces have been proud to be closely associated from the very beginning with this historic United Nations undertaking which for over ten years has made such a vital contribution to the maintenance of peace in the Middle East. 'Despite current difficulties faced by the United Nations in the peacekeeping field, I am hopeful that it will be possible to profit from the experience gained in UNEF and to use the lessons learned to develop in due course, within the framework of the United Nations, more effective machinery "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of (more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/725 5 June 1967 war", in the words of the Charter. In the continuing effort that must "be carried on to plan. for United Nations peacekeeping forces, organized and established in a way which wi'.'l avoid the disturbing experience we have just gone through in the disbanding of UMEF, the United Nations can count on our full support. Recent events show that the work of the United nations in the field cf peacekeeping is not less, "but more important than ever and that this work must include advance planning so that United Nations peacekeeping forces in the future will have a clear and strong basis on which to ope "-ate. 'I greatly appreciate the generous references in your message to the role I was privileged to share with others in the establishment of UNEF. I should like to take this opportunity to associate myself with your references to the great contribution made by your predecessor, Dag Hammarskjold. Without his selfless devotion to the United Bations and to the cause of world peace and his unrivalled diplomatic skill, United nations peacekeeping would never have developed as it did. You, Mr, Secretary-General, have carried on the tradition which he established and have guided the Organization with untiring energy and selfless sincerity through what has been a most difficult period of the United Nations' history. The Government and people of Canada are deeply appreciative of the very heavy responsibilities you are bearing and, on their behalf, I wish to reaffirm full support to you personally and to the Organization over which you preside . 'With warm personal regards.

'Lester B. Pearson1

"Yours Sincerely,

"George Ignatieff, "Permanent Representative."

» UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, 3VT.Y. (FOB USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- HOT AH OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release BG/SM/726 7 June .1967

EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES BETWEEN POPS PAUL AND SECR^.mRY- GENERAL

The following are the texts of the messages between Pope Paul VI and the Secretary-General, U Thant, on the developments in the Middle East: Message f rom Fope^ Paul^ VI on 5 June

"The Honorable U Thant, United Nations, Hew York. "We are deeply saddened and concerned by the developments in the events in the Middle East and, while We pray that the Divine Mercy may preserve that area and the world from suffering and destruction, We ask you to make every effort that the United Rations Organization may succeed in halting the conflict. We express in the name of Christianity the fervent hope that, in the unfortunate eventuality which we firmly trust will never occur that the situation may worsen, Jerusalem may, because of its sacred and holy character, be declared an open and inviolable city. "Pope Eaul VI"

Message from Secretary-General on 6 June

"His Holiness Pope Paul VI "Vatican City "Rome, Italy

"I acknowledge the message of JTour Holiness expressing concern and sad- ness which I share over the developments in the Middle East. I very much hope that the United Nations will be able to succeed in bringing about a cessation of the hostilities. If the situation should worsen, the suggestion that Jerusalem may be declared an open city will, I hope, be accepted by the parties directly involved in the fighting. In this connexion, I wish to

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/726 7 June 1967 inform ?our Holiness that, in a report I circulated to the Security Council yesterday, I stated: 'I strongly support the idea that has been advanced that Jerusalem should be declared an open city in order to protect for all mankind its irreplaceable historical and religious places which are of inestimable spiritual significance'. "U Ifaant "Secretary-General "United Nations" UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF IHFOBMASION MEDIA. — MOT M OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/727 SC/2897 7 June 1967

SUPPLEMENTAL INFOBM&.TIOH BY SECRETARY -GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following statement to the Security Council today, giving supplemental information on the situation in the Middle East:

"I received this morning, tfee fallowing cable from the Foreign Minister of Jordan: 'I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your cable informing me of the Security Council Resolution calling upon the Governments concerned as a first step to take forthwith all measures of an immediate cease-fire and for a cessation of all military activities in the area. This cable is to inform your Excellency that the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has taken note of the Security Council resolution and has authorized me to convey its acceptance of the said cease-fire resolution. I would add that I vas In telephonic contact with. Dr. Farra, our Permanent Delegate, when the Security Council voted the cease-fire resolution unanimously. Consequently, immediate orders were issued -to our armed forces to observe the cease-fire resolution except in self-defezjce. Highest considerations. Ahmed Toukan, Minister for Foreign Affairs.' "On receipt of this message, I have informed the Government of Israel of its contents through the Permanent Mission of Israel by telephone. "The,Chief of Staff UNTSO (the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization) reports that on the morning of 7 June the Jordan-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission Headquarters was occupied by Israel forces. The Chief of Staff UNTSO lodged a strong protest with the Israel authorities, insisting that the Mixed Armistice Commission Headquarters should be evacuated at the soonest possible moment by Israel troops.

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/727 SC/2897 7 June 1967

"I regret to inform the Council of the death of an UHTSO observer, Commandant Wickham of the Irish Army, who -was killed early on the 7th of June on the road "between Kuneitra and Damascus. I wish to express my sympathy and condolences to the Government of Ireland and the family of Commandant Wickham. "I have instructed the Chief of Staff UNTSO to do whatever he can to continue with his functions and to make his good offices available between the parties whenever there is an opportunity to do so. "The Commander of UHEF reports that he is continuing his efforts to en::ore the security of the remaining contingents of UNEF pending their evacuation. He reports that none of the units are at present in danger. Urgent efforts continue to find methods for their evacuation. "I also regret to have to report to the Council that the death o? one Brazilian soldier of UHEF in Rafah Camp on 5 June is now confirmed, ilie Commande.c

Press Release SG/SM/728 SC/2898 7 June 1967

ADDITIONAL REPORT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following statement to the Security Council today, giving additional information on the situation in the Middle East: "During the recess of the Security Council meeting this afternoon, I received the following report from General Odd Bull, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO). Tl. Situation report, 10:00 a.m. GMT, in the Jerusalem City area during the night ofj6-7 June: '(a) Israel Forces continued bombardment of Mount Scopus and reducing Jordan strong points. '(b) Augusta Victoria Hospital burnt out. T(c) Citadel on west side of walled city also received heavy weapon attack during morning of 7 June. 1(d) Sporadic fire, mostly mortar and machine gun, has continued in the city. ?(e) Crest of Mount Scopus was occupied by Israel tanks in clear view of the city with clear fields of fire into the walled city. '(f) Government House area allegedly received heavy mortar bombardment reportedly causing Israel Force casualties. 1(g) Mandelbaum Gate area placed under Jordan mortar fire for a short period in mid-morning. T(h) Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission (MAC) Chairman reports all quiet in area at present. J(i) Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission House has been occupied by Israel Forces. Israel delegate has advised the Chairman that if he and UWTSO personnel at MAC House wished to

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/728 SC/2898 • - •- 7 June 1967

leave he will assist and accept full responsibility for building and property. I have advised the Chairman to remain there for the present. f(j) Situation in city at 10:45 a.m. '1£T very quiet. I am watching the atmosphere, '2, Observers' from Jenin and Latrun observation posts have returned under UNTSO control under Israel Forces escort. Observers at Tulkarm are safe. Arrangements to recover them are under discussion. Observers at Hebron are safe." I-have radio contact with Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission. T3- At approximately lOjJO a.m. GMT heavy Israel mortar bombardment placed on target area in the vicinity of Bethlehem. . T4. Cease-fire not effective.» "I have today received the following letter from the Permanent Representa- tive of Israel to the United Nations: 'Dear Mr. Secretary-General, '1 have the honour to acknowledge receipt of the copy of your telegram.of last night addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. 'In this connection, I wish to draw your attention to the statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the IjUSth meeting of the Security Council on 6 June 19^7 > immediately1following the adoption of the Resolution, as follows: Let me then say here that Israel welcomes the appeal for the Cease-Fire as formulated in this Resolution. But.I must point out that the imp.1 ernetrcration depends on the absolute and sincere acceptance and co-operation of the other parties, which, in our view, are responsible for the present situation. And in conveying this Resolution to my colleagues, I must at this moment point out that these other Governments have not used the opportunity yet to clarify their intentions. 'I have the honour to request you to bring this letter to the immediate attentior. :0f the Security .Council. 'Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Gideon Rafael Permanent Representative'"

• '' 7J£C ,VA r7 vV AV . Tfl.VT, UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL SECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/729 • •SG/2900 8 June 1967

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION RECEIVED BY SECRETARY-GENERAL ON MIDDLE EAST SITUATION

The Secretary-General, U Tnant, made the following statement before the Security Council this afternoon, giving supplemental information he has received on the situation in the Middle East: "I received this morning the following message from the Foreign Minister of Kuwait: 'Gratefully received your cable concerning resolutions of Security Council for cease-fire. I am sorry to inform you that Government of Kuwait "will not observe nor adhere to these resolutions which do not condemn the Israeli aggressors. The resolutions also ignored the just rights of the Palestinians in their homeland. With highest considerations.' "I have received the following information from General Odd Bull, Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UNTSO): ''On the morning of 8 June, General Bull received a message from the Foreign Minister of Jordan to the effect that despite the cease-fire ordered by the Security Council Israel troops were bombing Mafraq. and that Israel forces were also concentrating on the VIest side of the River Jordan, South of Damiah bridge and some troops had crossed to the Eastern bank. General Bull communicated this information to the Israel Foreign Ministry and was informed that Iraq, troops and aircraft were in the Mafraq area. I may mention, in this regard, that the resolutions of the Security Council were transmitted to the Government of Iraq, — in addition to the Governments I informed previously — but no response has been received.

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/129 SC/2900 8 June 1967

'United Nations Military Observers in Tiberias reported on the morning of 8 June that very heavy continuous air and gro-aad fire was taking place in the general area of the Israel-Syria Central Demilitarized Zone. 'The Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force (UHEF) is continuing to concentrate UMEF troops prior to evacuation by ship off the beaches. One ship is already in the Gaza area awaiting clearance and two other ships are on their way to the area and are expected to arrive within forty-eight hours. It is hoped to resume the evacuation of UWEF within forty-eight hours.'"

7AtT. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA ~ NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/750/P.ev.l SC/2901/Rev.l 3 June 1967

CCMCTICATION FROM UNCTED ARAB REPUBLIC TO SECRETARY-GENERAL

Following is the text of a letter* dated 8 June 1967 to the Secretary- General, U Thant, and signed "by the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Republic to the United Nations, Mohamed Awad El Kbny:

"I have the honour to inform you, upon instructions of ny Government, that it has decided to accept the cease-fire call, as it has been prescribed by the resolutions of the Council on the 6th and 7ta of June 1967 on the condition that the other party ceases the fire. "Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration."

_v_ ,y;.v.v 7f Aft ' K

* This text was read to the Security Council this afternoon by the Secretary- General . UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOB USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/731 SC/2903 9 June 1967

BHPQRT rBY SECRE!TARY~GENER&L TO SECURITY COUNCIL, ON 9 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following oral report to the Security Council today on the situation in the Middle East: "At 0036 hoursj New York time, on 9 June, I received a message from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic which you have just read, Mr, President, "The Permanent Representative of Israel was informed of this message by telephone at 010^-hours, Nev York time. The President of the Security Council was similarly informed, and the message was immediately relayed to the Chief of Staff, United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), with instructions to inform the Israel authorities in Jerusalem.

"At 07lU hoursy New York time, I was advised by the Chairman of the Israeli-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission that he had received the following message from Syria: 'In spite of our observation of the cease-fire which was communicated to you at 6-^QO hours this morning, we are now being subjected to an Israel attack on the whole length of the Armistice Demarcation line and against our towns and villages which began this morning and continues at this moment, Different arms are being employed, aircraft, tanks, artillery and infantry. We hold the Security Council and the international conscience responsible for this criminal aggression. We demand immediately the convocation of the Security Council, the immediate cessation of the aggression and the punishment of the aggressors. Please circulate this document to the Members of the Security Council. 'Ibrahim Makhos, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Syrian Arab Republic.'

(more ) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/731 SC/2905 9 June 1967

"At 0900 hours GMT (5:00 a.m. New York time), the Chief of Staff, UMSO, received a message from the Israel authorities strongly advising against the intention of the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission to man observation posts on the Syrian side of the line as this would be a severe risk to the safety of the Military Observers, since there was severe shelling and shooting in the area* "General Bull was unable to contact the UTJTSO Tiberias Control Centre and then contacted the Israel authorities, recalling to them that both sides had accepted a cease-fire and expressing his deep concern about the new developments. "At 07^5 hours, New York time this morning, I received reports from General Bull based on reports from the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission of artillery shelling and air bombing in the Central Demilitarized Zone at between 07115 and 0755 hours GMT. Further bombardment and aerial activities were reported by the Tiberias Control Centre half an hour later. The Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission requested UNTSO Headquarters to contact Israel authorities. "General Bull also reported at this time that he had been informed by the Israel authorities that there was heavy shelling going on in the north near Syria including the town of Safad and that in the early hours of the morning some 16 villages and towns had come under heavy artillery fire. "At 0821 hrs. Hew York time 9 June I received, through commercial channels, the following message, similar to that transmitted by the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission, .from tlie Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic: "'In spite of our acceptance of the two appeals in the resolutions of the Security Council for a cease-fire, which was communicated in our telegram of this morning and broadcast over Radio Damascus at the same time, Israel continues its aerial aggression over Syrian territory combined with a general attack by the Israel army and tanks. We have managed to stay calm so far. We ask immediate measures to prevent the war from breaking out afresh. Highest consideration. Ibrahim Makhos, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Syrian Arab Republic.* (more) - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/731 SC/2903 9 June 1967

"At 0930 hours, New York Time this morning, I received a message from the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission stating that the first confirmed bombing by Israel aircraft north and east of Lake Tiberias was at 07^-6 hours GMT on 9 June. The message went on to say: 'Bombing, use of napalm and strafing has been continuous up to 1218 hours GMT. The bombing of the village of Sqoufiye is now in progress. Heavy explosions also heard north Lake Tiberias.* "At 1213 hours, New York Time today, I received from General Bull the following icessages he had received from the Chairman of the Syria-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission: *At 12*16 hours GMT» We confirm bombing in vicinity Damascus. Senior Syrian delegate has requested that Chief of Staff send a message to U Thant concerning current development. 'At 12ij8 hours GMT. Unobserved explosions and heavy artillery fire continues far north from Tiberias. Tiberias Control Centre confirms jet Israeli aircraft in the area. Senior Syrian delegate alleged 200 Israeli aircraft in the area, considerable movement of troops and targets engaged as far east as Kuneitra. 'At 1^01 hours GMT. Damascus is having an air raid.' "At 1032 hours Hew York Time, I received the following message through the Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission in Damascus from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic: 'Israeli attack still going on inside our territory. All enemy air and ground arms assaulting our country. Israel lying. Did not for a moment respect Security Council resolutions. We request immediate convening of Security Council and prompt compulsion for Israel to stop aggression immediately. Highest considerations. Ibrahim Makhos, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Syrian Arab Republic. '"

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Press Release SG/SM/732 SC/290^ 9 June 1967

SECOND REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 9 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following second oral report to the Security Council this afternoon on the situation in the Middle East:

"The cables to the two Governments of Israel and Syria conveying the Security Council resolution of today were dispatched immediately after the adoption of that resolution. "Ambassador Daoudy of Syria informed me orally at 2:15 p.m. that he had just spoken to Damascus and relayed the latest Security Council resolution. Syria accepts the terms of the resolution and is ready to stop immediately military operations on Syrian territory. "Later, I received the following letter: " 'Excellency, "'Concerning the information which I transmitted to your office at 2:15 this afternoon I have the honour to inform you on instructions from my Govern- ment, after a telephone conversation with my Foreign Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Makhos who instructed me to convey to you officially the acceptance of the Syrian Government to Security Council resolution S/7960. "'Please accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

George J. Tomeh Ambassador Permanent Representative Syrian Arab Republic* "I am informed the response of Israel was that given by the Representative of Israel in his statement to the Council a moment ago."

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Press Release SG/SM/735 SC/2905 9 June 1967

THIRD REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 9 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following third oral report to the Security Council this afternoon on the situation in the Middle East:

"I have just received the following letter from the Permanent Representative of Israel:

"'Excellency, "'I have the honor to confirm what I said in the Security Council on 9 June, that I have "been instructed by telephone to announce that Israel accepts the cease-fire resolution adopted by the Security Council today, provided that Syria accepts it and will implement the cease-fire. "'Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

'"Gideon Rafael "'Permanent Representative of Israel'"

Press Release SG/SM/734 SC/290? 9 June 1967

FOURTH REPORT OF SECRETARY~G3NEHAL TO SECURITY, COUNCIL ON 9 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U T&ant, made the following fourth oral report to the Security Council this evening on the situation in the Middle East:

"Immediately after todayrs earlier meeting of the Security Council, at k:kj p.m., I transmitted th* fallowing cablegraiames to the Foreign Ministers of Israel and Syria: "'Your Excellency, "'The Security Council decided at 1625 hours to ask me to seek immediate con- j*irins.tion that orders have beea ls«uad ifer the cessation of hostilities and that fighting has actually stopped. Since I am required to report "back to the Security Council on these points within two hours I shall be grateful for your inuaadlat& reply. Highest consideration. U Thant' "At 5:30 p.m. today I received a telephone message from Ambassador Daoudy of the Syrian Arab Republic. "The contents of this telephone message were confirmed in a letter received later from the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic, which reads as follows: "'Excellency: "'With reference to the message which you have addressed to the Foreign Ministry of Syria, I have the honour to confirm the telephone conversation which Ambassador Daoudy had with you at 5»50 p.m. today. "T(l) Israeli forces are still firing at the civilian population in Banias which is looted inside the Syrian territory near the northern sector of the Armistice Line.

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/73& sc/2907 9 June 1967

11*(2) The Israeli aircrafts are still flying in the Syrian skies. "r(5) Israeli helicopters are dropping paratroopers "behind the Syrian lines in order to carry out sabotage activities. Mt(U) A hu^e number of tanks and armored care are taking position inside the Syrian territory for further offensive. MII wish to confirm"that orders have been given to the Syrian Armed Forces to stop military operations forthwith in accordance with Security Council Resolution 8/7960 of 9 June 1967. UTELease accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. George J. Tomeh Ambassador Permanent Representative1 "At 6:05 p.m. I received an oral message from the Permanent Representative of Israel, Ambassador Rafael, which reads: "'I am instructed "by my Government to confirm that the Government of Israel has accepted the cease-fire resolution adopted "by Security Council today. Orders for the cessation of hostilities have teen issued to the armed forces. I wish \ • •."'.-'• " -. to assure the Secretary-General that on our part all fighting has stopped except for measures of self-defence when we are still being attacked. "At 6:50 p.m. I received the following letter from the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic: " tSccellency, "'Further to my letter No.S/ltl of today, I wish to draw your attention that at 6.15 p.m. local Hew York time, I received a telephone call from Damascus informing me that: "' (1) Israeli Air Force has bombarded the Villages of Al-Yaquteh and Al-Ouyun near the town of Fiq inside the Syrian territory. "'(2) At the moment of the telphone conversation with Damascus, namely, at 6.15 p.m. New York time, the Israeli military aircrafts were still overflying the Syrian territory. ' "T(5) The Israeli tanks and armored cars are still being massed inside the Syrian territory for further attack. "'Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. George J. Tomeh Ambassador Permanent Representative1 (more) - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/734 SC/2907 9 June 196?

"At 7i05 P»ia. I received the following message, through United Nations channels in Damascus, from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ibrahim Makhosj which was sent at 10:23 a.m. GMT: "'Syria already complied with Security Council demand for immediate cease-fire but Israelis are at this moment attacking the villages Al-Yaquteh and Al-Ouyun from the air.*'1

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Press Eelease SG/SM/735 80/2909 10 June 1967

REPORT BY SECIfflTARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL OH 10 JUKE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following statement to the Security Council early this morning giving an additional report on the situation in the Middle East: "Immediately after the adjournment of the Security Council at 10:30 p.m. last night' urgent instructions were sent to the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UKTSO) in Jerusalem and to the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission in Damascus. I informed them of the discussions in the Security Council, of the undertakings given by both parties to extend co-operation and expressed the hope that enough co-operation would be quickly extended to them so that United Nations'Military Observers might check on the actual situation in Syria as regards the observance of the cease- fire. "I requested them to advise me as speedily as possible both on the co- operation extended to them and the information obtained. I also specifically referred to the statement of the Syria Permanent Representative concerning the attack on Massadeh and asked them in particular to check this situation to the best of their ability. "At 11:33 p.m. New York Time, 9 June, I received from the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission the following report: 'Senior Syrian delegate states that there is large-scale fighting in the northern area near Banias. The Israelis are attacking with tanks and infantry supported with artillery.' "At 12:02 a.m. New York Time, 10 June, I received a further message from the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission: 'Following message received from Senior Syrian delegate at 02:5^ hours GMT: Israel has launched large-scale attacks along the northern front vicinity of Eanias and Moussadiye. . 2 - Press Release SG/SM/T?? • SC/2909 10 June 1967

Massive air attacks are underway from north to south and to include Kuneitra. Request United Nations Observers reoccupy Kuneitra and to carry out observation of Israeli aggression in other areas. Signed Ibrahim Makhous, Minister of Foreign Affairs Syrian Arab Republic.1 "At C£2Vhours on 10 June the Chief of Staff of UNTSO, General Bull, communicated to me reports received from the Tiberias control centre indicating that hostilities were continuing along the northern part of the Israel-Syria Armistice Demarcation Line and to the east. "Between 0110 hours GMT and 0125 hours GMT numerous heavy explosions were heard north, of Lake Tiberias. "At 0145 hours GMT parachute flares were seen north of Tiberias ever Jordan and between 01^7 hours GMT and 0155 hours GMT continuous heavy explosions heard north of Tiberias* "At 0230 hours GMT continuing and intense artillery fire heard north-east of Tiberias over Jordan valley. "At 0250 hours GMT three or four big explosions seen very far away in direction of Kuneitra. "At 0320 hours GMT, three big explosions seen in direction of Kuneitra and continuing sound of artillery. "At Qlj-CO hours GMT, OU25 hours GMT and 0^50 hours GMT heavy explosions believed to be air bombing heard in north-easterly direction. Aircraft heard passing overhead, usually in pairs. "At 0245 hours New York Time, I addressed a message to the Chief of Staff, UWTSO, in Jerusalem and to the Chairman of the Israel-Syria .Mixed Armistice Commission in Damascus in relation to the above quoted message from the Foreign Minister of the SyriaiArab Republic and requested that military observers should promptly visit the areas mentioned by him to determine the facts concerning the alleged and serious violation of the cease-fire and to report to New York Headquarters as speedily as possible. I am awaiting their reply. "I also informed Chief of Staff of UHTSO that an emergency meeting of the Security Council had been called for Olj-JO hours on 10 June at the request of the Syrian representative because of reports from Syrian authorities of massive Israel attacks by land and air in the Banias-Kuneitra area. Instructions were given to General Bull to continue to send most urgently any information as it - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/735 80/2909 10 June 1967

"At 07^1-0 hours GMT I received the following communication, from General Bull: 'Chairman of Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission reports that Senior Syrian delegate alleged at 06l6 GMT that Israeli forces launched two strong attacks on Kuneitra, first at Mrusadeh and second at Quassett, 12 and 7 kilometres respectively from Kutieitra, At 06jO GMT Senior Syrian delegate alleged that Israel aggression continues and that Kuneitra, 50 kilometres from Damascus, had fallen to Israel forces. Requested your immediate intervention to halt these violations of cease-fire agreement.' "And just now Dr. Ralph Bunche has had a telex conversation with General Bull, who has reported the following: "TAt 0735 GMT an air attack took place on Damascus airport area. Only half an hour ago Sasson (Chief Armistice Affairs, Israel Foreign Office) assured me that Israeli forces are not in Kuneitra and not on. road to Damascus. He requested that United Nations military observers be sent to Kuneitra to observe the cease-fire. I immediately sent a message to Chairman Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission to send United Nations military observers to Kuneitra or to vantage points in order to check and report on compliance with cease- fire. Another report being received frogi Tiberias says that air attacks are continuing on valley and Lake Tiberias shore.'"

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Press Release SG/SM/736 SC/2910 10 June 1967

SECOND REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 10 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following second oral report to the Security Council today on the situation in the Middle East:

"I have just received the following cable from General Bull: 'Report received from Chairman Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission that at 0923 hours GMT air attack on Damascus going on.1"

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Press Release SG/SM/737 SC/2911 10 June 1967

THIRD REPORT OF SECRETARY-GEISERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 10 JUNE

The Secretary-General; U Thant, made the following third oral report to the Security Council this morning on the situation in the Middle East: "Just before the suspension of the Security Council meeting, I received a report from General Bull that on the morning of 10 June he had met with Mr* Sasson of the Israel Foreign Office. Mr. Sasson assured General Bull that United Nations Observers would have freedom of movement and Israel liaison officers for them would be provided, Mr. Sasson suggested that United Nations Observers should visit settlements on the front lines with Syria in connexion with the observance of the Security Council's cease-fire. "Mr. Sasson asked that the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) Observers should be sent to Kuneitra to confirm that Israel forces were not in Kuneitra and were not advancing on Damascus. General Bull under Look to make every possible effort to observe the cease-fire both in the border settlements in the Kuneitra area and elsewhere. "General Bull has just transmitted another message as follows: "'Following message received from Chairman Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission (ISMAC), Damascus. Situation report at 0901 hours GMT, 10 June. All Observers and staff being called into Mixed Armistice Commission House area. This on advice from Senior Syrian Delegate who says he cannot accept the responsibility for United Nations Military Observers and staff outside the Mixed Armistice Commission house area.f "I do not yet know the exact implications of this message as far as freedom of movement and effectiveness of the Observers of ISMAC.

(more) - 2 - . Press Release SG/SM/737 SC/2911 10 June 1967

"Just now I received another report dispatched by General Bull at 1009 hours GMT which reads: " 'Message from Chairman ISMAC received via Tiberias control centre at 09^ GMT air raid seems to be over but alert still going on.' "Also, a report just received from General Bull dispatched at 1010 hours GMT says as follows: 11'The present situation is very confused. "'This is ray assessment in light of available information: 11'1. U5PTSO observers have reported that bombing and hostilities continue along eastern ridges of Lake Tiberias shores in Syria, as well as on the eastern bank of Jordan River, north of Lake Tiberias/ and that Damascus has been bombed by Israel air force. "'2. There is strong indication that Kuneitra has been taken by Israel troops but it is impossible for UWTSO to confirm. "'J. Our observers in Damascus have been confined in Mixed Armistice Commission House at Syrian request for safety reasons. "'it. Our observers in Tiberias cannot function effectively because they have no freedom of movement." "'5. Ho reply received regarding return of UKTSO Government House.•" UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA ~ HOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/738 SC/2912 10 June 1967

FOURTH REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 10 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thar.t, made the following fourth oral report to the Security Council-this morning on the situation in the Middle East: "I have received the following message from General Bull, dispatched at 1016 hours GMT: "Mr* Sasson of the Israel Foreign Office called to report the following: "'I have checked Chairman Israel-Syrian Mixed Armistice Commission (ISMAC) report of aerial attack on Damascus and I am calling to give an accurate report on the exact situation: "'a) There has been no air attack on the city of Damascus or on the Damascus air field. "'b) There have been and are Israel aircraft in the vicinity of Damascus; they are there as protective cover for the Israeli forces in the area. 11'c) I want to add our astonishment and strong protest concerning the report of the Chairman with allegations of attack on Damascus. We are surprised that he, being a military man, cannot distinguish between an air attack and other things that he is hearing, for instance anti-aircraft.' "'Mr. Sasson called back a few minutes later to stress again that there was no air attack on the city.1' "In response to an inquiry about the alleged Syrian shelling of villages in Israel, General Bull has replied: 'Only information we have is a flash from Tiberias Control Centre as follows: 0920 hours GMT clouds of smoke seen rising from side of hill in Israel approximate bearing '1-2 degrees West of Safad.T"

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Press Release SG/SM/7J9 SC/2913 10 June 1967

FIFTH .REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERA JE.JCO SECURITY COUNCIL

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following fifth oral report to the Security Council this morning on the situation in the Middle East: "In response to a request for confirmation of information previously transmitted by him, the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission has sent the following message at 1125 hours GMT: "'Confirm air attack at 0735 GMT in area repeat area of Damascus airport. A second air attack south of Damascus at 0855 GMT and a third attack at 0919 GMT north and northeast of Damascus. All strikes appear to be outside city of Damascus and based on UNTSO observation,'"

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Press Release 10 June 1967

COUNCIL

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following sixth oral report to the Security Council today on the situation in the Middle East: "I would like to read to the Council two brief communications I have received from General Bull. The first cable, dispatched at LlM hours GMT says: ntAt 1115 OAT Colonel Gat called Chief of Staff to request that he go to Tel -Aviv soonest to meet General Dayan, Israel Defence Minister. Gat said Israel is ready to make proper arrangements for cease-fire and wishes Chief of Staff to obtain time for cease-fire from Syrians. Israel also wished Chief of Staff to inform Secretary-General that he is in contact with Israel authorities to arrange cease-fire and he is going to see General Dayan as soon as possible. " 'Meeting arranged between Chief of Staff and Dayan for 1215 GMT Tel Aviv. Chief of Staff left Jerusalem for meeting at 1115 GMT. "'Trust that this move will not delay implementation of cease-fire.' "The second cable, dispatched at 1157 GMT, reads: HlAt-1130'GM!C Sasson called. Said he had heard Security Council reports on radio in which information concerning presence of Israel aircraft over Syria was presented. He said Israel aircraft taking protective measures over Syria were over border area repeat border area . tn

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Press Release SG/SM/?4l SC/2915 10 June 1967

SEVENTH REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following seventh oral report to the Security Council today on the situation in the Middle East:

"The following message has been sent by the Chief of Staff of UNTSO to the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission: "'1. Most urgently advise Syrian authorities that Israel is prepared to co-operate on a cease-fire together with no further movement of troops provided Syria accepts same, provided further that United Nations Military Observers shall be deployed on each side of lines at same time that cease- fire fixed. Request urgently Syrian advise regarding acceptance this cease-fire arrangement. "!2. UNTSO Chief of Staff, proposed cease-fire to be effective 1630 hours (GMT) today 10 June. Speed is essential. "13« Chairman prepared to re-establish control center Kuneitra as soon' as possible and further be prepared to post United Nations Military Observers together with Syrian Liaison officers at observation sites to be selected on the spot. Syrian Liaison officers to be provided with own communicaticns. Advise estimate time required for movement and positioning United Nations Military Observers. "'4. Officer*'in-Charge Tiberias be prepared make similar paragraph 3 deployment of United Nations Military Observers on Israel side with Israel Defence Forces Liaison officers1."

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Press Release SC/2917 10 Juin 1967

The Secretary-General, U ^JSiant, made the following eighth oral to the Security Council this evening on the situation in the Middle East: I "As members will recall, at the end of this morning7 s meeting I had informed then of the proposal Jtor a cease-fire arrangement which was "being presented to both sides by the Chief of Staff, General Odd Bull. Shortly after the meeting adjourned, w£rd was received from General Bull that he had been notified by both Bides of their acceptance of his cease-fire arrangement <5jhich was to go into effect afe 1630 hours GMT. That message was circulated i to the Security Council as S/793Q/Add.2. "Since the time fi^ed for the cease-fire I have received very little information and therefore I can give the Council only a limited report. I must say frankly that ."l prefer not to make fragmentary reports because they can often be misleading, but in view of the fact that the Council is requiring information fr^m me while its meetings are underway, and since i the Observers themselves^ because of war conditions and restrictions on their movements and communications, are unable to observe and report as they normally do, I have no Choice but to give you the information as I get it, i which is in the form of 'flash' reports from the field. Before the Council had adjourned this morning, I sent to the Chief of Staff a request for information on the following five questions: "1. Has aerial activity stopped, does it continue and if so where? / "2. Does artillery shelling continue and if so where and by whom? "3* Is there a continuation of shelling of Israel villages and if so where or has it ceased? "4. To what extent have the troops of Israel penetrated into Syria and where do they remain? "5- How close to Damascus did Israel troops approach? ( more } ' 4

- 2 - Press Release SC/2917 10 June 1967

"Late this afternoon I received the following reponse from General Bull on those <£aeeticns: "'Confirmed reports sparse since no United Nations observation in area of hostilities. Following as full and accurate as possible: fl*l. Tiberias reports from 1400 GMT to 1700 GMT of continuous helicopter flights to and from Israel/Syria, probably re-supply and casualty evacuation. Helicopters carrying navigation lights as light faded. At 16^7 GMT Damascus reported air bombing by two delta-winged aircraft in area seven to 10 kilometres in southerly direction from Damascus. Commenced 1639 GM£. Aircraft not identified due to distance but seen by United Nations Military Observers at Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission Headquarters. Confirm definitely bombing, although strike could not be seen due to intervening buildings. (I may point out that thi's was 17 minutes after the cease-fire arrangement was to go into effect, which was 1630 GMT.) '"2. At 1752 GMT three United Nations Military Observers in Tiberias area reported four artillery guns firing from position north of operation post Delta. Target area not seen but flashes observed. Indicate firing from east to west (Syria to Israel). At 1805 GMT artillery fire continues from positions one to one-and-a-half kilometres north of operation post Delta. "*3. Ho reports from Tiberias which has no observation over area of Israel settlements excepting Syrian Demilitarized Zone but artillery fire reported in paragraph 2 indicates Syrian fire towards Israel from Syrian position location Hill 62. "'4. Both Israel and Syrian authorities confirm occupation of Kuneitra by Israel forces. Israel claims prior to cease-fire. "'5. Wo report of Israel troops closer to Damascus than Kuneitra --approximately 68 kilometres by road South West from Damascus.'

(more) - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/?lf2 SC/2917 10 June 1967

"I also received the following message from the Chairman of the Israel- Syria "Mixed Armistice Commission: 'Following message received from the Senior Syrian Delegate on 10 June at 1953 GMT: Israeli paratroops dropped at Tsil (approximately 30 kilometres last of Lake Tiberias) and at Rafid (approximately 20 kilometres South-South-East of Kuneitra) from helicopters.' "I have subsequently asked the Chief of Staff to send to me with greatest urgency all information available to him on the reported bombing of Damascus or its vicinity and on any other breaches of the cease-fire arrangement. I have asked him to give me all possible information on the general situation with regard to the observance of the cease-fire arrangement and on the steps being taken to achieve full observance of the cease-fire. I have also asked him to indicate what steps ha^e been taken to deploy observers on both sides of the line, including Kuneitra, as envisaged in the cease-fire arrangement. "The latest report I have received from General Bull, which came in not long ago, is as follows: 'Following situation regarding implementation of cease-fire: '1. Proposed a cease-fire together with no further movement of troops to be effective at 1630 GMT, 10 June. This proposal was accepted by both parties. *2. Instructed Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission to re-establish Kuneitra Control Centre in the afternoon of 10 June and informed Israel authorities accordingly. Chairman dispatch an advance group of observers accompanied by three Syrian liaison officers towards Kuneitra for this purpose but when they arrived at Sasa (approximately ^•0 kilometres from Kuneitra) it was learned that the latter town had been invested by Israel forces. It was thus impossible to achieve this first stage of deployment of observers as planned. '3» It was planned to position first group of observers immediately after cease-fire became effective and as soon as possible on both sides in the battle area. Due to the changing situation this could not be done prior to darkness of 10 June. '4. It is our intention as soon as possible commencing morning 11 June to arrange for the deployment of observers from both sides in an orderly fashion into the battle area. Until observers can be deployed United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine is without definite knowledge regarding the troops on the ground and has no ability to observe any developments. Isolated pockets of resistance are likely to exist within which troops may not be under the control or even in communication with their national authorities. Under such conditions United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine is in no position to provide definite information or useful observation on the cease-fire situation. '5« The difficulties are heightened by the fact that armed forces of one party are deep in the territory of the other.T" * *** * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/7^3 SC/2918 10 June 1967

NINTH REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 10 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following ninth -oral report to the Security Council this evening on the situation in the Middle East:

"I have received the following cable from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel: '^Referring to your cable I wish to inform you that orders were issued in accordance with the cease-fire arrangement reached with the assistance of your representative. General Odd Bull, with effect from yesterday evening at 1850 local time. The cease-fire went effectively into force at the appointed hour and has continued without interruption. The Israel forces are adhering scrupulously and maintaining fully the cease-fire arrangement. "'Highest consideration.

Abba Eban Minister for Foreign Affairs1"

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Press Release SG/SM/71^ SC/2919 11 June 1967

FIRST ORAL REPORT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL IN SECURITY COUNCIL ON 11 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following first oral report to the Security Council today on the situation in the Middle East:

"I have received two reports from General Bull; w'Details of the bombing incident, which has been reported earlier, as provided by the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission, are as follows; "'Two aircraft identified as delta-wing too high to observe marking. Bombs were definitely dropped. Heavy anti-aircraft put up as result. Impact south of Damascus estimated 7 to 10 kilometres. Estimated 10 to 15 heavy explosions heard. Ho smoke or dust observed due to intervening buildings. Absolutely not sonic boom. These aircraft observed by experienced air force United Nations Military Observers and were assessed as bombers and not photo-reconnaissance aircraft, due to flight angle of sun. Senior Syrian Delegate reported that there were six aircraft in group, although only two were observed by United Nations Military Observers. "TNo other breaches of cease-fire observed.

"'Sasson of Israel Foreign Office categorically and repeatedly denied • ~ • ' * ' « bombiflg by Israel aircraft. He stated that such allegation should not be permitted to distort picture of calm prevailing after cease-fire time.

(more) - 2 - Press Release SC/2919 U June 1967

"'Additional information on steps taken to achieve observance of cease- fire on either side is as follows: "'United Hations Military Observers from Damascus deployed and remained overnight at Sasa, where teams of two will deploy at first light 11 June toward Kuneitra. "'Simultaneously, team from Tiberias will deploy eastward to Kuneitra, which is invested by Israel forces, and re-establish Kuneitra Control Centre. "Deployment of United Nations Military Observer team from Tiberias to Kuneitra has been delayed pending the decision of Israel Minister of Defence regarding this movement. Decision expected approximately 0800 hours GMT, 11 June. "tUnited Nations Military Observer team which remained overnight at Sasa moved~toward Kuneitra at daylight and at 0550 hours GMT reported to Damascus to have passed village of Fania. Ho further information available.'"

y V V, * AW A UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/7^5 SC/2921 11 June 1967

SECOND ORAL REPORT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL QM 11 JUNE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following second oral report to the Security Council this evening on the situation in the Middle East:

"I have received three messages from General Bull this evening which are not to be found in the Supplemental Information paper which is before you (S/7930/Add.3). All three of them relate to the question of the Israel tank column moving out of Rafid. I had sent to General Bull and to the Chairman of the Israel-Syria Mixed Armistice Commission (ISMAC) at Damascus three cables seeking urgent information on this matter. "The three messages from General Bull are as follows: "First message received from General Bull at 1906 hours New York Time: u*¥e are waiting for a report from Damascus and will inform you immediately upon receipt.' "Second message received from General Bull at 2032 hours New York Time: '"Hereby report just received from Damascus: l) Approximately 0950 hours GMT today 11 June United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) teams UN 203, UN 150, UN 77, UN 1^7, UN 85 and UN lU2 were proceeding from Sheikh Meskine and Naqoua towards Rafid with a view to establish- ing mobile observation posts in the Kuneitra area. At Rafid the road was blocked by the Israel Defence Force. The UNMOs of all these teams reported that the Israel forces included numerous tanks. 2) At 1539 hours GMT, UNMO teams 203 and 150 reported that they could observe two or three tanks in front of Joukada village. They also reported that on a ridge in front of this village a column of tanks was heading in an easterly direction and afterwards turning in a southerly direction.T (more) 'WJ:ai*nL'aimaa»Era^^

UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information . . United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF BTFQRlvlATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note Ho. 3571 12 June 1967

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

Following is the text of a letter dated 9 June 1967 from Ralph J. Bunche, Under-Secretary for Special Political Affairs, to the Editor of The New York Times:

"Sir, "In his article entitled rCairo: Quiet Flows the Nile1 of Sunday, 4 June, Mr. James Reston states that the Egyptians he has "been talking to 'even deny that they planned to get rid of the United Nations troops at the mouth of Aqaba. This, they say, was proposed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the ground that if the United Nations couldn't keep its troops in one part of the crisis area, it wouldn't keep them in another part'* This statement is repeated in Mr. Restonls article in your issue of 5 June, in which it is described as 'the argument from the official side of Cairo'. "If only for the sake of historical accuracy, I wish to make the'following observations: "(l) Whatever may have been said to Mr. Reston in Cairo, or by whom, I can assure you that there has not been the slightest hint of such a position here, and with good reason, for there is not a shred of truth to it. In critical times such as these, of course, it is common in official and un- official circles alike, to seek scapegoats (to a shameful degree at present in the United States) and to indulge in what may be called deception, if one wishes to be polite about it. "(2) The letter received by the Commander of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) from the Chief of Staff of the United Arab Republic Army on the night of 16 May demanded the withdrawal of 'all United Nations troops which installed Observation Posts along our borders'. This unquestionably included Sharm el Sheikh which was, in fact, a United Nations Observation Post. (more) - 2 - Note No. 5371 12 June 1967

"(3) As reported by tlie Secretary -"General on 18 May to the General Assembly, this message to General Rikhye was quickly followed by a movement of United Arab Republic troops up to the line in Sinai, and by a demand from the Chief of Staff of the United Arab Republic Army at midday local time on 17 May for withdrawal within 2k hours of all UEEEF detachments in Sinai, specifically including Sharm el Sheikh. In fact, United Arab Republic troops arrived to take over the United nations camp and positions at Sharm el Sheikh and Ras Masrani at 1210 hours GMT on 18 May, demanding a response from the UKEF troops there within 15 minutes. They did not get it, and the UHEF troops remained there for six more days, although they were unable to function. "(10 The official request for the withdrawal of UHEF was received lay the Secretary-General at 12 noon Rew York Time on 18 May, i.e. some four hours after the actual arrival of United Arab Republic troops at Sharm el Sheikh. "(5) The reason for the Secretary-General's position that tMEF could not accept an order to withdraw from one part of the line and remain on another part was that to do this would in fact make UHEF a party to the resumption of war by opening the door to a direct military confrontation bwteeen Israel and the United Arab Republic. Once the United Arab Republic decided to move its troops to any part of the line, which they could have done at any time during the past 10 years, IfflEF's presence ceased to have any useful function. "The line that had to be covered by UHEF, incidentally, was 295 miles long while the total strength of the Force was 3,^00 (1,800 on the line), with personal arms for self-defence only. At Sharm el Sheikh, 32 men were stationed." UNITED RATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL'RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/7^7 PAL/102U 111- June 1967

STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNING UNRWA

The following statement was issued today by the Secretary-General, U Thant:

"The recent conflict in the Near East has inevitably brought tragedy and hardship to countless innocent people. Among those whose lives have been most greatly affected by the war are very many who have long been refugees in areas which have now been occupied by the military forces of Israel. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is doing its utmost to discharge the emergency tasks which have resulted from the war and to alleviate the tragic plight of the refugees affected. "UNRWA was already under severe financial stress before the present crisis. The additional emergency tasks and responsibilities which it has had to undertake as a result of the fighting will greatly increase this financial strain. The Secretary-General, therefore, strongly endorses the appeal which the Commissioner General of UNRWA has made to all Governments, voluntary agencies and private donors to come to the aid of the refugee victims of the conflict by contributing to UNRWA money or emergency medical supplies, especially antibiotics and dressings. The Commissioner General has pointed out that funds are especially needed for tents, blankets and the replacement of vehicles lost or damaged during the conflict. "The Secretary-General ardently hopes that contributions will be swiftly forthcoming from many Governments and other sources in order to enable UNRWA to assist those who through no fault of their own have been caught in the toils of war."

### * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public'information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF ISFORMATIOH MEDIA -- NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)-

Press Release SG/SM/750 PAL/102? 15 June 3.967

EXCHANGE OF MESSAGES BETWEEN UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GEI^RAL , AKD SECRETARY-GENERAL OF LE&GUE Off RED CROSS SOCIETIES

Following is the text of messages exchanged between the United Nations Secretary-General, U Thant, aad the Secretary-General of the League of Red Cross Societies, Henrili Beer: Telegram dated 12 June from Henrik Beer, Secretary-General of the League of Red Cross Societies, Geneva, to U Thant, Secretary-General of the United~Natioas(translated' from French")" "League of Red Cross Societies welcomes cease-fire established in Middle East, -which was regarded by its President and Vice-Presidents in their appeal of 5 May as essential prerequisite for any effort aimed at finding solution that would restore peace in that part of the world. As that condition has fortunately been fulfilled today, I wish to assure you, on behalf of all the national societies members of our federation, that the League is prepared, in accordance with its traditional procedures and in close collaboration with the International Red Cross Committee, to assume its responsibilities in connexion with the provision of assistance to all civilian victims of the conflict. "However, it considers that priority should be given to having countries draw up a general inventory of needs for each category of following: first, civilian populations; secondly, old refugees; thirdly, new refugees. To this end, it seems desirable that a local bureau should be set up to centralize information, prepare an over-all programme, and co-ordinate various activities. In view of large number of parties concerned with assistance, I take the liberty of suggesting that United Nations should take initiative in this field in collaboration with international institutions, Red Cross and non-governmental agencies concerned." (more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/750 PAL/1027 15 June 1967

Telegram dated 14 June from United Nations Secretary-General to Secretary- General of League of Bed Cross Societies "Mach appreciate your most helpful and constructive message of 12 June. Am consulting our people in Near East end particularly UNKftA and will send substantive answer in near future." Additional Telegram dated Ik June from United Hations Secretary-General to Secretary-General of~Lea.gue of Red Cross Societies ~* "Security Council informed on Ik June by representative of Israel that there are considerable numbers of United Arab Republic soldiers still in Sinai in disorganized and desperate conditions whose sole objective is to reach the Canal and return home. Ihey especially lack food, water and medical attention. Any efforts by League of Red Cross Societies to deal with this problem would be much appreciated and I would suggest that if you agree you should approach Governments of Israel and the United Arab Republic direct to see 'What could be arranged." UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of PuKLic Information United Nations, W.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SH/752 19 June .196?

The folio-wing statement vas issued today by the Secretary-General, U Thant:

"I have noted press reports on the morning of 19 June relating to a paper or memorandum vhich I am told was -written by Dag Hammarskjold in August 1957, setting forth certain of his vi«v& about the presence of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) in the United Arab Republic, The plain fact is that there is little that is new in the memorandum and it makes no revelations •which -would warrant the special significance being attributed to it in some quarters. In any case, such a paper could not alter the basis for the presence of UNEF on the soil of the United Arab Republic, as set out in the official docume&tG. I wish to make the following specific comments on this memorandum: "1, It is not an official document, is not in the official, files of the Secretary-General' s office, and its existence has never been reported in any way to any organ of the United Nations, including the UNEF Advisory Committee. It was thus of a purely private character and although supposedly secret in nature, is said to have been given by him to one or more of Mr. Hamniarskjold's friends. To say the least, the release of such a paper at this time would seem to raise some question of ethics and good faith. "2. It can be said with full confidence that this paper was never conveyed to President Nasser or to the Government of the United Arab Republic, that Government knew nothing about it and was in no way bound by it. "3. I, however, had been made aware of the substance of the paper before my visit to Cairo to talk with President Nasser. "4. The crux of the matters dwelled upon in the Hammarskjold paper is the understanding between Mr. Hammarskjold and President Nasser which sometimes has been referred to as the 'good faith1 accord. There is, in fact, nothing \

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/752 19 June 1967 new about this. In my special report to the General Assembly of 18 May

(A/6669, paragraph 7)s I gave the text of an aide~m6moire which I had immediately sent to the Government of the United Arab Republic on the 'good faith' accord. No response to it was received. "5. It is puzzling to me, however, that those who attempt to read so much into the Hejnmarskjold paper, arid particularly into the 'good faith1 accord, do not see — or do not choose to see — the clear fact that the 'good faith' accord, having been reached in November 1956 had a more limited scope and could not possibly have envisaged or have had any relevance to the later function defined for UWEF by the General Assembly in February 1957- In DPI background release EMF/H9 of 3 June 1967, entitled 'Notes on Withdrawal of United Nations Emergency Force (UHEF)', this point was clearly stated in • paragraph 17 of that paper in the following words: "'It has been asserted that the so-called Tgood faith1 accord (see document A/6669 of 18 May 1967, paragraph 7) implied that Egypt's acceptance of General Assembly Resolution 1000 (ES-I) of 5 November 1956 would oblige Egypt to continue to accept the presence of UNEF until the task of the Force was completed. Such a view, which reads more into the 'good faith' understanding than is justified, also ignores the fact that this understanding was reached in mid-November 1956 and therefore could relate only to General Assembly Resolution 1000 (ES-l) of 5 November 1956 which defined the task of UNEF in very general terms as being 'to secure and supervise the cessation of hostilities'. At that early stage the purpose of the Force in reality was to replace the withdrawing forces of France, Israel and the United Kingdom, and to be, in fact, the condition for the withdrawal of those forces. Hostilities ceased, automatically in fact, once UNEF was deployed and thus its task at that time was completed. It was not until its resolution of 2 February 1957 that the General Assembly broadened the function of UNEF in its Resolution 1125 (XI) by stating that: "the scrupulous maintenance of the Armistice Agreement requires the placing of the United Nations Emergency Force on the Egyptian-Israeli armistice demarcation line and the implementation of other measures as proposed in the Secretary- General 's report ..." (more) - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/752 19 June 1967

That broader task, cle.'ixly, is not completed, and it -would "be impossible to say at present -when it -will ox* can be completed. The Armistice has already -endured for over 18 yes^s. But this was-not the task envisaged or defined for UMF -when Secretary-General Hsjmnarskjold and President ' ' Nasser reached the 'good faith' understanding.1 "6. There is also a failure "by many tg>*

Press Release SG/SM/753 GA/3386 20 June 196?

TEXT OF STATEMENT BT THE SECRETARY^QENERAL, U TBAMT, TO TEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON 20 JUNE 196?

Following is the text of a statement made today by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to the General Assembly, with regard to the withdrawal of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF):

?;-! the last five and a halt years I have never had reason to conaaent upon a Btfe-tameao made to this Assembl; by a representative of any Government. But I feel is necessary to reply veiv ilefly to certain statements iaade by the Foreign Minister of Israel in his address to the General Assembly on the morning of 19 June with regard to my decision to comply with the request of the United Arab Republic for the withdrawal of UNEF. "Mr, Ebants remarks on this subject were highly critical, but it is not for that reason that I speak now. I personally welcome criticism when it is just, based on fact and does not obscure or ignore essential facts. The concern behind this intervention is that the picture which Mr. Eban gave yesterday can be very damaging to the United Nations with regard to its peace-keeping function, past and present. I seek only to restore in that picture the balance which the facts warrant. "I have to say at the outset that I was rather surprised at the breadth and vigour of the Foreign Minister's dissatisfaction with the withdrawal decision since in a quite recent meeting we had discussed that issue and at that time I had given a rather full explanation of just why the decision I took had to be taken in the way it was and I heard no such reaction as Mr. Eban projected to the General Assembly yesterday; nothing like it. I wish now to say that I do not accept as having validity Mr. Eban's strictures on this matter.

(more) ~ 2 - Press Release SS/SM/753 GA/3386 20 June 196?

"My position on the decision to -withdraw UNEF and the reasons for It have been set forth clearly in reports which I have submitted to the General Assembly and the Security Council (A/6669., 8/7896 and S/7906)* "Beyond this, I need make only the following specific comments. "The Foreign Minister of Israel, I note, made no intention in his critical analysis of ray decision of certain decisive facts and factors with which he is certainly very well acquainted. Mr. Eban must know, for exanvole, that the indispensable basis for the effective buffer function exercised by UHEF for more than a decade was the voluntary decision of the Government of the United Arab Republic to keep its troops away from the line, with only United Nations troops in the buffer zone which was exclusively on the UAB side of the line. "On the other hand, the Foreign Minister also knows, I am sure, that Israel exte^ed no such co-operation on UWEF to the United Nations; that, despite the

(more) - 3 • Press Release SG/SM/753 GA/3386 20 June 196?

"In this regard, Mr. Eban referred to the alert order issued to the Egyptian troops on the morning of 17 May. He failed to mention, however, that ±t was on that same morning that Egyptian troops began to move up to the line, thus eliminating the buffer zone, as I have previously reported to this tody (document A/6669). "I have noted Mr. Eban's picturesque simile of the 'fire "brigade which vanishes from the scene as soon as the first smoke and flame? appear.1. Mr. Ebaxj would agree, I am sura, that for more than 10 years UNEF hac1 :^en remarkably effective in preventing clashes along the line and in extinguishing the flames of i'.lie raids across the line, the terror of the fedayeen. But I am sure that Mr. Eban d?.d not mean what he seemed to imply, namely that UNEF was on Egyptian territory tc sir-ay as long as the United Nations saw fit and to fight agd.nst UAR troops. •*•'- necessary, to prevent them from moving up to the line in their own terri-c r-. "On the matter of consultation,. 'L . Eban should know that I did engage in consultations before taking my decision, to the full extent required of me and even somewhat more. "I conclude these observations by quoting a statement on the same subject made in the Security Council on 3 June 1967 by the distinguished Permanent Representative of Israel': 'The crisis in the Middle East erupted without warning on 16 J&y when an Egyptian general sent an ultimatum to the Commander of UHEP. At the same time as he asked for the removal of the United Nations force, he moved his own forces into the positions held by the United Ifetions. The course of the events that followed is by Eovcommon knowledge and well documented in the reports of the Secretary-General. 'The Secretary-General tried to prevent the crisis from getting out of hand. He failed. It was not his fault...' "In view of the fact that important questions have been raised before the General Assembly on the withdrawal of UftEF, I wish now to inform the Assembly that it is my intention to issue within a day or two a report giving a full account of my actions on this matter." # #*# * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF IHFOK'iATION MEDIA -- HOT M OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release GA/3397 26 June 1967

TEXT OF STAJEME8TU BY ABHJL RAHMAU PAZHWAK. PRESIDEMT OF GMERAI/ ASSEMBLE. C?T mmmTAHEAN KEEPS IN MIDDLE EAST

Following is the text of a statement made to the General Assembly this afternoon by its President, Abdul Rahman Pazhwak (Afghanistan),, concerning humanitarian needs in the Middle East:

"It is because the situation of the civilian and refugee population in the Middle East is so clearly a major humanitarian issue, transcending national or ideological boundaries, th^vfc I hope this Assembly will allow me to say a few words on the purely huzra..iitarian issues involved. "I am certain that no Member of this Assembly can fail to be moved by the plight of so many of our fellow human beings. Indeed, the ultimate purpose of this Assembly and of the United Rations as a whole is a humanitarian one, expressed in the opening words of the Charter: 'We the peoples of the United Nations determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war ...f. The care and relief of the innocent victims of 'the scourge of war* must therefore represent a most immediate and direct obligation upon all Members of this Organization. "We are all aware of the vital work which has long been sustained by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The resources of UNRWA always have been slender in relation to its task. Today, in the face of a vast new tidal wave of human misery which has broken over the area, the resources both of Governments and of this United Nations agency clearly are over-taxed. "Because of the widespread concern expressed about the refugee situation, I felt that I should try to obtain the latest information on the situation, I therefore contacted by telephone in Beirut the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Mr. Laurence Michelmore, and he has confirmed the information contained in his recent report to the Secretary-General, which appeared as General Assembly (more) - 2 - Press Release GA/3397 26 June 1967 document A/6723, namely that there a^-e 100,000 or more newly displaced persons in Jordan who are in immediate need of all the essentials of life -- food, shelter and adequate sanitary facilities. "The United Nations Relief and Works Agency has "been engaged recently in arranging, temporary camps and meals for as many as possible of these unfortunate people. However, there is a most urgent need for additional foodstuffs,, for funds for tents, for blankets and for other equipment if temporary living facilities are to be provided for at least a major proportion of those who are now homeless and destitute. • "Nor can we ignore the fate of the many for whom displacement arid the refugee camps have long been a way of life. We are told that, as a result of devoted and ceaseless efforts, services have been re-established at existing IMRWA camps in the area although many of the refugees from these camps who left them still have not returned in the aftermath of war. Their fate must add a further element of concern to the already grim picture of human misery. "Through the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, everything possible is being done, with the assistance of many Governments, to relieve the situation. However, it is evident that the funds and resources available are in no way sufficient to meet the needs and a much greater effort is called for. "We all hear a great deal of the need for vast programmes for economic assistance and the maintenance of the balance of power, which can be of concern only to the conflicting parties. Surely, it is not too much to expect that adequate attention be paid to the humanitarian issues which are, or should be, of universal concern? "In this painful situation, so difficult for anyone to describe who is not himself a sufferer and a participant ia this tragedy, my only wish is to address the most immediate appeal to all Members, both as signators of the Charter and as morally obligated human beings, to make whatever contribution they can to ease the massive suffering of these men and women and children. For this purpose, none of us have resources so slender that his contribution will not be of some significance to those whose plight is so desperate."

J/LVL.y . fiTTf ff UNITED .NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/765 SC/2931 8 July 1967

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THANT BEFORE SECURITYCOUNCIL'S 1565TH MEETING

"It is a matter of great regret to me that I am not in a position to provide the Members of the Council with the needed information about the reports of a new outbreak of fighting on 8 July between the armed forces of Israel and the United Arab Republic in the Suez Canal sector, which would be based on observations and investigations by United Nations Observers. I was similarly unable to give the Council any information about the previously reported fighting in the Canal sector on 1 July as called to the attention of the Council in the letters asserting violations and breaches of the cease-fire presented by the Permanent Representatives of the United Arab Republic (S/8025) and of Israel (S/8026), The Members of the Council will realize, of course, the reason for my inability to inform them. As I reported to the Council on k July 1967 (S/7930/Add.l9, paragraph 3) no United Nations Military Observers are stationed in the Suez area and, therefore, I receive no verified information about hostile activities there. "The Councils resolution of 12 June 1967 (S/RES/2J6), relating exclusively to the cease-fire between Israel and Syria, in its paragraph 5, explicitly invoked the assistance of the Chief of Staff of UNTSO and the UNTSO Military Observers in the implementation of the cease-fire it had demanded. The Council's resolution of 9 June (S/RES/235), also relating to the cease-fire between Israel and Syria, in its paragraph 5> invoked the assistance of the Secretary-General in achieving compliance of the parties with the cease-fire. Unlike those two resolutions, however, the Security Council's general cease-fire resolutions of 6 and 7 June (S/RES/233 and S/RES/234) which are applicable to the cease-fire

(more) - a - ' Press Release SG/SM/765 SC/2931 8 July 1967 between Israel and the United Arab Republic, request the Secretary-General to keep the Council informed about the Situation but make no provision for any assistance with regard to implementation of the cease-fire. "Realizing that I could not discharge my reporting responsibility under these latter two resolutions without any means of obtaining reliable information, and, more important, that a cease-fire without any observation or policing assistance in its implementation is inevitably vulnerable, I decided on h July to take an initiative toward a possible alleviation of this situation. On that date, I undertook two exploratory talks. In an afternoon meeting with Dr. Mahmoud Fawzi, Deputy Prime Minister of the United Arab Republic, I enquired of him what the reaction of his Government would likely be to a suggestion from me that United Nations Military Observers might be stationed in the sector of the Suez Canal where there is now confrontation between the armed forces of the United Arab Republic and those of Israel. Such Observers, of course, would have to be stationed on both sides, as has been done in the sector where tha forces of Israel and Syria are in confrontation. This, I explained, would be especially necessary if the Secretary-General is to be enabled to fulfill his reporting responsibilities under the Security Council resolutions of 6 and 7 June. Dr. Fawzi advised me that he would bring this idea to the attention of his Government and obtain their reaction to it. lu^ediately following the meeting with Dr« Fawzi I had a similar discussion with Foreign Minister Abba Eban of Israel and advanced the same suggestion to him. The Foreign Minister also assured me that he would seek his Government's reaction to this idea. "As of now, I have had no word about the reaction of either government to this suggestion which I consider to be constructive and helpful in the light of the prevailing circumstances and in the reporting context of the relevant Security Council resolutions. "If it should be agreed that United Nations Observers should proceed to Sinai and the Suez sector, this could be quickly done, according to information from the Chief of Staff, General Bull, within Ms present Observer strength but it would be necessary to increase the number of Observers available to him at a very early date thereafter."

# ##* * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OP IKPOEMrtTION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SC/2933 SG/SM/766 9 July 196T

TEXT 0? STATEMEM1 BY SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THANT, IN SECURITY COUNCIL ON 9 JULY

Following is the text of a message by the Secretary-General, U Thant, in the Security Council on 9 July:

"Members of the Council will recall that in my statement to the Council at its meeting of yesterday, 8 July, I pointed out that if there should be agreement on the stationing of United Nations Observers to observe the cease- fire in the Suez sector, additional Observers would have to be made available to the Chief of Staff, General Bull. "I have since consulted General Bull and he has informed me that for the Suez sector his estimated need -would be for an additional 25 Observers who should be made available to him as soon as possible. Pending the arrival of these additional Observers, the Chief of Staff, if called upon to do so, can dispatch a small team of Observers now on his staff to the Suez Canal area. They could institute patrols on both United Arab Republic and Israel sides of the front. "The Observers operating in this area, of course, would have to have logistical support to be provided by Field Service, including radio operators, transport and transport mechanics, supply, security and secretarial personnel. For immediate purposes, this could be provided from UNTSO's existing establishment. "United Nations Observers have been serving in the Near East since 1948, when there were well over TOO as against the 133 now serving in the area. Wherever United Nations Military Observers have been employed, it has been established practice to have the approval of the Governments directly concerned —• in the

(more) ~ 2 - Press Release SC/2933 SG/SM/766 9 July 1967 present case, the Governments of Israel and the United Arab Republic — regarding the covjitriec from which Military Observers for the particular operation may "be drawn. That practice continues. "'ib? f--.nyno.3J irap'U f»g.t;i.:>ii3 ef such en incrft&E-'^ CPJTI "be mada available to the Coracil l.=i.tt.-.r. It can be suld now, howevci', ^hat they would not be excessive,,"

# ##* # UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release 19 July 1967

STATEMENT, BY THS r?£SIDENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

In the New York Times of Tuesday, 18 July 1967, on page 8, it iras stated that a protest was made to the President of the General Assembly "against the use of the Assembly rostrum for 'venomous and scurrilous religious incitement,' according to a. statement from the Israeli delegation." The article further stated: "The Foreign Minister charged that references and allusions 'offensive to Jewish tradition and faith1 had been made without intervention by the President. The Israeli delegation said that it believed that these remarks were 'without precedent1 in the United Nations and that the statements should have been ruled out of order." In this connexion, the President of the General Assembly wishes to stress that it is only out of courtesy that he did not ignore such criticism addressed to the President by a representative since he had been in a position to reject it categorically. The facts are as follows: At the 1.555th plenary meeting, on 17 July 19&7, the representative of Saudi Arabia asked for the floor. In complying with his request, the President of the General Assembly said: "Before proceeding to the second item of our agenda, I call on the representative of Saudi Arabia." As it is evident from the statement of the representative of Saudi Arabia, he started his intervention by making certain observations about the position of his delegation regarding the decision of the General Assembly to recess for consultations. (more) - 2 - Press Release 19 July 196T

On the "basis of the verbatim record of the meeting, it will be recognized that the words "Jewish faitL", "Judaism11 and "traditions" were used in the following context: (a) On page 6: "Before the Mandate vras granted to the United Kingdom at the Versail3.es Conferer.ee, the population of Palestine vas estimated at a little over "00,000, of which less than 60,000 were of the Jewish_ faith.:1 (b) On page 11: "Nevertheless, Zionism is still endeavouring to convert Judaism, a religion, into a sort of intransigent 'Israeli sm', which the Arabs, rightly or wrongly, consider contrary to their customs, traditions and the very essence of their national life." This is not an offense to Judaism. (c) On page 16: "Should this inalienable rigfct go tfilly-nilly because Western Zionists use Ju feign?" (d) On page IT: ' ' "Hie dogca of political Zionism is predicated on a retrogressive chauvinistic form of nationalism which is the antithesis of universal brotherhood as envisaged in Judaism and the other two monotheistic religions." (e) On page 22: "This is the selfsame Mr. Ben-Gurion who has renounced both Jesus and Paul as being virtually traitors to what seems to be his exclusive brand of Judaism." (f) On pages 23-25: "Political Zionism, whose leaders are mostly secular, have chosen to put their faith in the sword."

(more} - 3 - Press Release 19 July 196T

Taken in their coirt^t, the passages quoted above clearly show that there is no truth in the assert/.on that the rostrum was used for "venomous and scurrilous religious incitement", as reportedly alleged by th-? delegation of Israel. Similarly, it is not accurate to state that when the President of the General Assembly thought the4., the representative of Gaudi Arabia vas going into details which were not quite relevant at that stage,, he did not draw the representative's attention to it. The President did call his attnnbiou in the following manner: (a) As the representative was delivering his speech, the President of the General Assembly sent him a note of appeal. The President has alvays believed that a debate should proceed in a dignified manner and that the Chair should not allow a situation which may be considered undesirable by the General Assembly. (b) When the President's written appeal was ignored, he intervened orally and interrupted the speaker, telling him in particular that he was confident "that he, better than anyone else — myself in particular -- knows what statement is relevant at what stage". While the President appealed twice to the representative of Saudi Arabia to ask for his co-operation, it should be noted that only one reference in his statement may be interpreted as offensive to Jewish tradition. That reference was made at the last stage of his speech, approximately one and a half minutes before the end of his intervention;. The President would like to make it clear that the following opportunities were open to the members of the delegation of Israel who were present, if they wished to register their protest: (a) At any time they could have raised a point of order and expressed their views on the statement made by the representative of Saudi Arabia and they could have requested a ruling by the President on the matter. It goes without saying that the President would have given them such an opportunity.

(more) - h - Press Release 19 July 1967

(b) They could have asked, to intervene in the exercise of their right of reply as they have already done on many occasions. The delegation of Israel did not see fit to resort to the two possibilities that have .just been mentioned. Yet, after the meeting, the representative of Israel saw 'the President and told him that he was protesting against the fact that the representative of Saudi Arabia was allowed to use the rostrum for certain remarks. The President mentioned to the representative of Israel the possibility of his exercising his right of reply and added that he would give him the floor at the afternoon, neeting foi* that purpose before the Assembly proceeded to consider the next Item, At that ja&eting, the representative of Israel did exercise his right of reply, but his intervention dealt with a different matter and did not raise this point. It is not for the President to say why the delegation of Israel did not consider it appropriate to deal with the question in accordance with normal practice. Coming back to the statement of the representative of Saudi Arabia, the President would like to add that there were indeed in that statement references to "Zionists", "political Zionism", "Western Zionists", "the dogma of political Zionism", but no offensive references whatsoever to Judaism or to the Jewish faith on which a protest -. as reported in the New York Times could be made to the President. It should be emphasized that no formal protest was delivered to the President in writing on this matter.

# w UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — WOT AH OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SC-/SM/794 15 August 1967

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO REPORT ON SITUATION IN JERUSALEM

The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Ambassador Ernestc1 A. Thalmann as his Representative in Jerusalem for the purpose of obtaining information in order to facilitate his report to the Security Council and the General Assembly. This is an ad hoc assignment to assist the Secretary-General in carrying out the terms of the resolution A/RES/225^ (ES-V) of Ik July 196?, in which the General Assembly in paragraph 3 "Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council and the General Assembly on the situation and on the implementation of the present resolution." Ambassador Thalmann, as the Secretary-General's Personal Representative, will gather information on the situation in Jerusalem for use by the Secretary- General in his report to the Council and the General Assembly. Ambassador Thalmann is expected to arrive in Jerusalem on 21 August and to stay there not more than two weeks. His mission will be solely to obtain information and will not entail any negotiations in relation to the implementation of the General Assembly resolution. The Secretary-General has received the assurance of the Government of Israel that it will co-operate with Ambassador Thalmann' s mission and will give him all necessary facilities and information. Ambassador Thalmann is at present Head of the Division of International Organizations in the Federal Political Department of the Government of Switzerland, He served as Permanent Observer of Switzerland to the United Nations from June 1961 to March 1966. He was born on Ik January''191^ in Bellinzona, Ticino, Switzerland. Ambassador Thalmann has served in the Swiss Federal Government since 19^5- (For further biographical details see press release BIO/512, issued today.) UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE 0? INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT M OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Releac? SG/3M/79VCorr.l 15 August 1967

SECRETARY^GEEERAL AFPOIMTS PERSONAL REPRESEIWATIVE TO REPORT OH SITUATION IH JERUSALEM

CORRECTION

In the first sentence of press release SG/SM/79^ issued today, the name of the Secretary-General's Personal Representative in Jerusalem should read: "Ernesto A. Thalmann".

*** UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, H.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/8^3 25 October 196?

TEXT OF STATEMENT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL U THMT IN SECimTY COUNCIL ON 25 OCTOBER

"I have taken particular note of the expressions in the course of the current debate relating to the possible strengthening of the United Nations Observer operation in the Suez Canal Sector. I also have been giving some thought to this matter for some time because, in view of the number and serious nature of the breaches of the cease-fire which has been called for by the Security Council since the Observers have been stationed in the Sector in pursuance of the Security Council's consensus of 9/1° July 196? j it has become increasingly apparent that the operation needs strengthening in certain vays. "At present, there are 43 United Nations Observers stationed in the Canal Sector. They man nine Observation Posts (OPs) and engage in limited patrolling in jeeps. They have no means of observing by air or sea and their mobility is limited. The Canal itself is about 88 miles long and the Observers must be deployed on both its east and west banks. "I am in process of consulting with General Bull, the Chief of Staff of U3STSO,, on means of enabling the Observer Operation in the Canal Sector to become more fully effective in maintaining the cease-fire. It is iimuediately apparent that steps along the following lines are necessary if proper effect is to be given to the Council's consensus: 1. Increase the number of Observers to 90 in order to increase substantially the patrolling function and the number of OPe. Such an increase, of course, would require expanding, in consultation with the parties, the national distribution of the Observers* 2. Double the number of Observation Posts on each bank of the Canal, which means increasing the present total from nine to 18«

(more) ~ 2 - Press Eelease SG/SM/8^3 25 October 196?

3* Acquiring and making use of possibly as many as four small patrol craft for United Nations Observers jatrolling in the waters of the Canal, tile Bitter I&kes, and adjacent waters. k. Acquisition and use of four small helicopters with operational and maintenance personnel, for purposes of increasing the mobility of the Observers and for aerial observation^ two to be stationed on each bank of the Canal. "More specific requirements and details will result from the consultationn with the Chief of Staff now under way and will be reported in due course. All nuch measures, of course, would relate exclusively to the Security Council's cease-fire resolutions and I&s consensus ancl would, therefore/ be necessarily of a provisional and temporary nature. ""The strengthening of the Observer Operation in the Suez Sector along the lines thus indicated will, of course, entail a substantial increase in the cost of the operation beyond the estimated cost set forth in S/8182. The estimated financial implications will be submitted to the Council as eoon as the necessary calculations are completed. "Because the Observers in the Suea Sector^'fiave* orr several occasions been caught in exchanges of fire' between the two sidae'S1, it is being contemplated, on the suggestion of the Chief of Staff, that' body armour to protect the upper torso, in addition to the steel helmets'" already in use, be provided to the Observers. The cost for -this item will not be great, "I may take this occasion also to call ta the attention of the members of the Council that in the -absence of any Security Council action such as its resolution of 12 June relating to the Syrian Sector and its consensus of 9/10 July relating to the Suez Canal Sector, there is no United Nations Observation operation beyond token representation in the Israel-Jordan and Israel-Lebanese Sectors. Thus, for these ^eft'Ors there is at present no machinery to assist in implementing the Segttrl'ty Council cease-fire resolutions of 6 and 7 June, which apply to all Sectors. "Naturally, I will seek and expect the full

##* # UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, H.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — SOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/A/55 BIG/5514- 23 November 196?

} SECRETARY-GENERAL. DESIGNATES .MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL .REPRESENTATIVE

The Secretary-General, U Thant, today designated Gunnar Jarring of Sweden as the Special Representative who is to proceed to the Middle East, in accordance with resolution 2^2 (1967) adopted by the Security Council on . £2 Uovember. In that resolution, the Security Council requested the Secretary-General to designate a Special Representative to proceed to the Middle East to establish and maintain contacts with the States concerned in order to promote agreement and assist efforts to achieve a peaceful and accepted settlement in accordance with the provisions and principles in the resolution. The Secretary-General was requested to report to the Security Council on the progress of the efforts of the Special Representative as soon as possible. Born on 12 October 1907 at Brunnby, Sweden, Mr. Jarring is at present his country's Ambassador to the Soviet Union. He was Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 195^ to 1958 and served as Sweden's Representative in the Security Council from 1957 to 1958' Prior to taking up his present post in Moscow, he was Ambassador •to the United States, 1958 to 1964. When Sweden was a member of the Security Council, Mr. Jarring served three times as its-President, in February 1957 > and in January and December 1953. In that capacity, he was requested by the Council in February 1957 to examine with the Governments of India and Pakistan any proposals which, in his opinion, were likely to contribute towards the settlement of the India-Pakistan question and to visit the Asian continent for that purpose.

(more} - 2 - Press Release SG/A/55 BIO/531^ 23 November 1967

Prior to his appointment as Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, Mr. Jarring had served in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Stockholm and in Swedish diplomatic missions in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Ethiopia, India, Ceylon and Pakistan. Mr. Jarring received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1953 at the University of Lund, Sweden, where he served as assistant professor of Turkic languages from 1933 to 19^-0. During that period, he travelled extensively in Soviet Central Asia,, China, Afghanistan and India. In 19^-0, he joined the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and was assigned to the Swedish Legation in Ankara. Subsequently, he held posts in Teheran and Baghdad, 19^1-46; and Addis Ababa, 1946-48. In 19^8, he was appointed Minister to India and later also to Ceylon. In 1951? he was Minister to Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. He was Head of the Political Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, from 1953 to 1956. Mr. Jarring has published works in the linguistic, ethnographical and political fields. He is married and has a daughter. <*/ UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFCPJMTION MEDIA — NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No, 3^26 111 February 1968

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

fn response to queries, the text of the following letter dated 7 February from Ralph J. Bunche, Uncler-Secretary-General, to Eugene V. Bestow, Under- secretary for Political Affairs, United States Department of State,, is being made available:

"Dear Mr. Rostov,

"My attention has been drawn to certain statements in your speech before the Lamar Society of the University of Mississippi Law School at Oxford, Miss., en December 8, 1967, the text of which is reproduced in the Department of State Bulletin of January 8, 1968. I take the liberty of writing to you about these remarks because I feel sure that you would not wish to perpetuate damaging errors of historical fact, "in particular, I note the following statement: 'President Nasser responded by moving troops into the Sinai Peninsula and asked the United Nations to remove the forces that had patrolled the border between Israel and Egypt since 1957- Tne Secretary-General respondpd at once, without going through the type of consultations his predecessor had indicated he would undertake before withdrawing the troops. The United Nations Emergency Force was suddenly removed, not only from the border but from the C-aza Strip and. Sharm-al-Sheikh as well. Egyptian troops promptly replaced them, and President Nasser announced that the Strait of Tiran would be closed to Israeli shipping.' "l must say that I am surprised that the foregoing statement, cr, more accurately, raisstatement, with its very serious and damaging implications, should have been nacie so matter-of-factly by soneone who is in a position to have access to the facts of the matter. To say, for instance, that

(more) - 2 - Note Efo* lh February 1°68

'the Secretary-General responded at once' ignores U Thant's immediate demarches through the Permanent Representative of the Ur.iJ:ed Arab Republic and his efforts to get a clarification and reconsideration of the intentions affecting UDJEF, as well as his prompt consultations with other United Nations members, including Israel, not to mention his two meetings with the representatives of countries providing troops for UHEF, one of which was a formal meeting of the UHEF Advisory Coomittee. "The statement that the Secretary-General failed to go through 'the type of consultations his predecessor had indicated he would undertake before withdrawing the troops' is, therefore, 1 assure you^ altogether unwarranted and iris lead ing.-, It is dealt with at some length in paragraphs 37 to V4 of the document which was circulated to the General Assembly last June precisely because of repeated misrepresentations of the whole question of ths withdrawal of UNF.F. I am enclosing a copy of that document (A/6730/Add.3) on the assumption that you have not yet had a chajace to read it. Since I worked very closely with U Thant's predecessor, Lag Hammarskjold, on both the creation and supervision of UEEF, I feel that I can say with considerable confidence that Mr. Hammarskjold would have done exactly what U Thant did with regard to the withdrawal of UNEF, and in much the same way. There was, in fact, no sensible alternative course, although wishful or frustrated thinking might hold otherwise. "The sentence which follows the phrase quoted in the paragraph above is even more unsupportable and deplorable in its implications. It is not true to say that the "Egyptian troops promptly replaced them1, The fact is that the Egyptian troops moved up to the Line in Sinai and into Sharm el Sheikh and took over IMEF's positions before the official request for the withdrawal of UNEF was received by the Secretary-General, thus automatically eliminating the function of UNEF as a buffer between the armed forces of the UAR and Israel. This is also spelled out in detail in the document enclosed. The basis of UNEF's effectiveness for more than ten years as a buffer had been the voluntary agreement of the UAR with UHEF to keep UAR forces a specified distance from both the Armistice Demarcation Line in the Gaza Strip and the International Frontier in Sinai. The Egyptian forces had also voluntarily stayed out of Sharm el Sheikh and Eas Nasrani on the Strait of Tiran. But

(more) r 3 - Note Ho. 3k26 Ih February 1968 there had never been any doubt about the perfect right of the Egyptian Army to be present on any part of Egyptian territory, should the Government at any time wish to assert that right. The Israel Government, as you know, did assert its sovereign right from the beginning by never agreeing to the stationing of UMEF on the Israel side of the Line as had been intended by the General Assembly. Israel's right to take this position was never challenged either by Mr. Eanar.arskjold or by the General Assembly, "I have written at some length on this question because there have been so many totally, and sometime,' I fear wilfully, misleading accounts of the withdrawal of UHEP, in which U Thant is made a convenient scapegoat for the 196? war in the Middle East. Such accounts, apart from fostering bad history, seriously impede a clear understanding of contemporary international relations, including the functioning of the United Nations.

"Sincerely yours,

Ralph J. Bunche Under-Secretary-General" UNITED NATIONS Pregs Services Office of Public Information United Nations., N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MSDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/1T03 MEM/25 26 February 1968

AMBASSADOR JARRING TO VISIT HEADQUARTERS FOR CONSULTATIONS

F.ollowing is a statement issued by a United Nations spokesman today:

"The Secretary-General has conveyed to his Special Representative in the Middle East, Ambassador Gunnar Jarring, his feeling that it would be useful at this stage to have an opportunity for consultation and exchange of views between the Secretary-General and Ambassador Jarring* Only limited communication is posci'bla by means of cable messages. Among the subjects to be considered, of course, will "be possible next steps and the prospects for entering upon a new stage in the discussions with the parties, "Ambassador Jarring has responded favourably to the suggested visit and plans to come to New York on Wednesday 28 February, since he finds this to be the most convenient period to be away from the standpoint of the work of his Mission„ After a brief stay at United Nations Headquarters he will return to the Middle East and resume his efforts."

# #*•* * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3^27 29 February 1968

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following is the text of a statement by Dr. Ralph J, Bundle which was read today on his behalf by a United Nations spokesman:

"My attention has been drawn to the current circulation of a number of accounts of how the 19^9 armistice talks at Rhodes were conducted. Some of the versions and descriptions I have seen are quite inaccurate and misleading. Since some of the stories have used my name in one way or another, I wish it to be known that I have never made any comment for publication about any aspect of those talks and do not intend to make any at this tine, even to correct mistakes, because I do not think that it would be helpful to do so in the present circumstances. Therefore, although I have extensive persoaal notes on what actually transpired at Rhodes, I have nothing to add at present to what was said in my reports to the Security Council in 19^9 about the talks at Rhodes,"

•X- UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3l|.g9 8 March 1968

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following statement was made today by a United Nations spokesman:

"Enquiries have been made about an interview with General Itshak Rabin, the recently-appointed Ambassador of Israel to the United States, published in Le Monde of 29 February 1968, in the course of which there were certain references to the withdrawal of UNEF, In this connexion, the Permanent Representative of Israel has confirmed to the Secretary-General that the position of the Government of Israel in this matter is as stated by Israel's representatives in the Security Council and the General Assembly, and, specifically, by Ambassador Raphael on 3 June 1967 at the 13it-6th meeting of the Security Council-' and by Foreign Minister Abba Eban of Israel in the 1528th meeting of the General Assembly-' on 20 June 196?."

I/ document S/PV.13U6, p.6 2/ document A/PV.1528, p.29-30 UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, K.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AH OFFICIAL RECORD)

CAUTION; ADVANCE RELEASE Tress Release SG/SM/959 Not for use befoz-e 6 p.m. EDO? FAO/1S67 Thursday, 2 May 2 May 1963

TA IBITETLj TroN3^SBC^TA^r_G^r^, /jjg,MO^DIR^TOR:-G}j;NF,.RAL APPEAL FOB. SPECIAL,. COITTRIBUTIOHS, OF FOOD FOR DISPjLACJI) ..

(The following is being issued simultaneously in Eew York and Rome,}

Following is the text of a joint appeal ty the Secretary-General, U Thant, anrL the Director-General of the Food and-Agriculture Organization (FAO), Addeke H. Boenra, which vas seat oa 30 April to Members of the Qnited Nations and members and associate members of the FAO:

The Secretary-Gen ei-al of the United Nations and the. Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization present their and hs.ve the honour to refer to General Assembly resolutions 22^2 (ES-V) of k July 1967 and 2?Ul E (XXII) of 19 December 19^7 and in particular to the paragraphs of those resolutions relating to persons who were displaced during and after the hostilities in the Middle East in June 19^7 and who remain in serious need of assistance. Palestine refugees registered with tha United Rations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Hear East, including those who were displaced by the recent hostilities, continue to be assisted by that Agency. Although UNEWA hopes ,to maintain its services for all persons coming within its mandate, it should be pointed cut that the Agency faces a la^ge deficit for 1968, which led the General Assembly in resolution. 23^1 A (XKIl) of 19 December 19^7 to call "upon all Governments as a matter of urgency to make ths most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs" of UNRWA, and to urge "non-contributing Governments to contribute and contributing Governments.to consider increasing their contributions". The Secretary-General,

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/939 FAO/1867 2 May 1968 - by a note of 2 March 19=3 (A/7060), described the new emergency refugee situation facing Jordan and UNRWA as the result of a further exodus from the Jordan valley early this year, and appealed to Governments to make whatever contributions they could to help meet it. Apart from the Palestine refugees registered with UITRWA, there are many thousands of other persons who are still displaced in Jordan, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the United Arab Republic. Until now, the urgent needs of these persons have been met largely by special contributions, through voluntary organizations or directly to the Governments concerned*, and by assistance offered by the World Food Programme, as "well as by the United Nations Children's Fund and UlffiWA. The World Food Programme, an agency of the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization, was able to make an important contribution towards meeting the food needs of the newly displaced persons (other than those registered with UNRWA) by making emergency allocations of commodities to provide basic rations for 100,000 persons In Jordan for an. initial period of three months and for 150,000 persons for a second period of three months; for 100,000 persons in the Syrian Arab Republic for three months3 extended for a second period of three months; and for 35?000 persons in the United Arab Republic for three months} extended for a second parirxl of three months, at a total cost of about $3,5 million. At the Secretary-General1a urgent request, the Director- General of FAO has extended the aid up to the end of May on an understanding between them that this is the final allocation -possible from WFP resources. This relief of course is of a provisional nature and aimed at meeting an emergency situation. The Secretary-General and the Director-General have consulted with the host Governments, which have indicated clearly that they are not in a position to do more than at present for the relief of these displaced persons. The generous flow of aid from non-governmental sources cannot be expected to provide more than a small fraction of the food required,

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* Information provided by Governments on their contributions is to be found . in documents A/6792 and Add.l, A/63U7 and Adds. 1-5. Press Release SG/SM/939 FAO/186? 2 May 1968

Under the World Food Programme procedures and practices, food aid granted in an emergency cannot be continued indefinitely as part of a general relief programme. The means of assuring the food supply of the displaced persons still in serious need beyond May 1968, when the T-JFP action comes to an end, is therefore a matter of grave concern. With the concurrence of each of the three Gkr/ernments concerned, the Secretary-General of the United Hat ions and the Director-General of FAO wish to bring this situation to the attention of the other Members of the United Nations and Members and Associate Members cf the FAO, and to appeal for special contributions of food to help meet the continuing needs of the displaced persons mentioned above. The foodstuffs most urgently needed, and the approximate quantities now required, for rations for the estimated 300,000 persons concerned up to the end of the year are: flour (21,CCO tc:is); rice (l,000 tons); cooking oil or fat

(800 tons); sugar (l.JOO tons); pulses (??400 tons); corned beef or mutton (175 tons); and dried ski/dcied milk (^00 tons). Donor Governments may send their contributions direct to the Governments concerned and inform bhe Corauissioner-Gnneral of tMRWA accordingly. Governments also may make special contributions to the World Food Programme, which has offered to receive commodities for distribution by UEHWA and assist Governments by the provision of technical guidance, provided that donor countries bear the cost of transportation, insurance, superintendence and handling charges, and that appropriate provision be made for reimbursing WFP for any administrative costs which it might incur. Alternatively, donor Governments who wish to make special contributions to the WFP in response to this appeal may request that such contributions be passed directly to one or more cf the Governments in the area for distribution, provided the conditions of the preceding sentence regarding transport and administrative costs are met. The Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Director-General of the FAO earnestly hope that all Members of the United Nations and Members and Associate Members of the FAO in a position to do so will help meet this urgent humanitarian problem.

±r*t \t \r # JViv'ff TT UNITED K A T I 0 N S Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations,, N.Y. (FOH USE OF INFORMATION KS.DIA — NOT AE OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release FAO/Io~((> 10 June 1968

UNITED, STATES HFOHMS gECRBgAEY^GEKSHAL OF SPECIAL OgJFOOD FOR DISPLACE?) PERSONS IN MIDDLE EAST

Following is the text of a note verbale dated 7 J^-e to the Secretary- General,, U Thont, from the Representative of the United States, in reply to a .Joint appeal* by the Secretary-General and the Director-General of tne Food and Agr?'. culture Organization (FAO) for special ccnbributicns of food for persons displaced as a result of the June 196? hostilities in the Middle East:

The Representative of the United States of America presents his compliments to the Seeretary-»General of the United Nations and has the honour to refer to the note of the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of 30 April 1968, number EC 115/52 (5)- The United. States Government has carefully considered the problems discussed in that note and the procedures suggested for alleviating them. As a transitional measure to provide opportunities for the Government of Jordan to jt!i develop alternatives for the supply of food to the displacsd persons concerned, the United States Government -is prepared to announce that it will make available to the World Food Programme for distribution in Jordan of up to 6,000 metric tons of flour and 225 metric tons of vegetable oils, together with related oceau transportation. Thes-e quantities have an estimated export market value of $8l6,000 and are for distribution over a three -month period. Towards the close of that period, the United States will review the situation with respect to displaced persons in Jordan and may be in a position to make available additional quantities of those con^nodities for the balance of the calendar year. 'These quantities have beun based on the requirements of 200,000 recipients.

* #-:««• *

* For the text of the appeal, see Press Release SG/SM/939-.FAO/1867 of 2 May. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/218* k September 1968

SECRHTAHY-GgjEIlftL TO ATTEND OAU SUMMIT MEETING AND ALSO PAY OFFICIAL VISIT,TO LIBYA

The Secretary-General, U Thant, will leave New York on Monday, 9 September, en route to Algiers where he will attend the opening of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 13 September, at the invitation of the OAU and the Government of Algeria, Before arriving in Algiers, the Secretary-General will pay an official visit to Libya at the invitation of the Government of Libya. On his way back to New York, the Secretary-General will address the International Non-Governmental Organizations Conference on Human Rights in Paris, U Thant plans to return to New York on 16 September,

* ##* •*

* Press Release SG/T/216 dated 17 August should be corrected to read SG/T/217. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1001 SC/3057 8 September 1968

STATEMENT EY SE.CTIBIARY-.GEKEBAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 8 SEPTEMBER

The Secretary-General, U Thant, made the following statement in the Security Council today; In three brief cable messages in the course of this afternoon, the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Trace Supervision Organization (UNTSO), General Odd Bull, has informed me of the heavy and prolonged exchange of fire along the Suez Canal during the day of 8 September. The Chief of Staff's report on the firing exchange was received by me only at 8:58 p.m. local time tonight. This is understandable, since the Chief of Staff compiles his reports to me on the basis of the reports he receives frcm the Observers in the field — in this case there would be quite a number of field reports from the Observer Posts (OPs) on both sides of the Canal. Throughout most of today, the Observers have had to concentrate on efforts to stop the firing by arranging a cease-fire that would hold. Only then could attention be given to reporting. The three short messages recei/ed from the Chief of Staff this afternoon read as follows; "1. Heavy exchange of fire along almost all of the Canal started at 1352 hours GMT. As reported by the Ismailia Control Centre, weapons used are artillery, mortar, tanks, machine-guns, recoillessand small arms. Cease-fire proposed for 1^50 hours GMT and agreed to by both parties. However, sporadic fire still going on at 1512 hours GMT in OP Echo and OP Hotel area. "2. Heavy exchange of fire recommended at 1535 hours GMT. New cease-fire proposed for l6jO hours GMT, "3» Exchange of fire in Canal area has ceased and since 1650 hours GMT all OPS have nothing to report."

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/1001 SC/3037 8 September 1968

I immediately asked General Bull to expedite to the extent possible the transmission of his report on this latest breach of the Security Council's cease-fire demand. In view of the fact that no .messages about further firing have been received from General Bull, I think it safe to conclude that the cease-fire arranged by the United Nations Observers has been holding since it became effective at 1650 hours CMP on Sunday, 8 September. The report just received is being processed and will be circulated in English and French tomorrow morning. Ib reads as follows: "1. OPs Lima reported at 1306 GMT explosions observed on east side of the Canal in the OP Gold and OP Red area. .Again at 1308 explosions observed in the same area. "2. OPs Red and Gold reported that explosions were seen at 1308 on both sides of the Canal about one kilometre south of OP Red. "3. At 1311 OP Lima reported heavy explosion observed on west side opposite area OP Gold and OP Red. At I^lk OP Lima reported heavy explosion observed on east side close to OP Red, and at 1317 OP Lima reported heavy explosion observed in OP Gold and OP Red area. OP Lima reports confirmed by OPs Red and Gold. nk. Between 1308 and 1317 fire died down to resume with intensity at 1329 • "5. At 1325 OP Fink reported IDF initiated fire. "6. At 1332 OP Mike reported fire initiated by UAR. Fire returned by IDF at 1336. Artillery, mortars, tanks, heavy machine-guns and light machine-guns used. OP Gold reported UAR initiated fire at 1332. "7. At 1^36 OP Copper reported fire initiated by UAR. At 1332 OP Blue reported initiation of fire by UAR. At 13^3 OP Kantara reported fire initiated by UAR. At 13^2 OP Silver reported fire initiated by UAR. At 13^5 OP Yellow reported fire initiated by UAR, "8. At 1335 OP Hotel reported hearing firing. At the same time, OP Lima reported exchange of fire in OP Red area. "9. At iWjQ fire was returned in OP, Copper area. At 13^3 in OP Silver area and immediately in the other OP areas.

(more) - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/1001 SC/3037 8 September 1968

"10. First cease-fire time was proposed at 1355 for 1^50. Accepted by Senior Israel Representative at 1^05 and by Senior United Arab Republic Liaison Officer at iklQ. This first cease-fire was not effective. "11. At 1350 OP Echo reported firing by IDF with artillery and mortars. At 1355 OP Juliet reported artillery, mortar and tank fire from both sides. "12. Due to damage to Kantara Control Centre communications, message from headquarters United Nations Truce Supervision Organization to Kantara Control Centre were then relayed by Ismailia Control Centre* "13. At llHl all OPs on west side of Canal reported shooting from both sides of Canal with artillery, tanks and machine-guns. "1^. From 11+35 to 1^52 all OPs on western side of Canal reported heavy firing from both sides with artillery, mortars, tanks, heavy machine-guns and light machine-guns. "15. As firing continued in most areas a new cease-fire time was proposed for 1630. At 15^1 Ismailia Control Centre informed Kantara Control Centre that according to information from United Nations Truce Supervision Organization headquarters Israel Defence Forces Liaison Officer accepted cease-fire time of 1630. At 1607 Senior United Areb Republic Liaison Officer accepted cease-fire time of 1630. Firing continued in wozt areas. Israel Defence Forces ceased firing at or soon after lo^Oj UAH finally ceased fire at 1705. "16. Cease-fires as follows; OP Copper area: IDF 1^30; UAR 1705. OP Kantara areas IDF l650j UAR 1650. OP Yellow area: IDF 1630$ UAR 16^7. OP Silver area: IDF l625j UAR 1630. OP Pink area: IDF 1607; UAR 1630. OP Gold area: IDF l6^0j UAJ* l6U6. OP Red area: IDF l6^"2j UAR 1652. OP Blue area: IDF 1636; UAR 1650. "17. During the incident, weapons used were small arms, light machine-guns, heavy machine-guns, tanks, mortars, artillery, from both sides. OP Pink reported ground-to-ground missiles used by IDF. Kantara Control Centre heard three rounds that sounded like ground-to-ground missiles used by IDF.

(more) - I|. - Press Release SG/SM/1001 SC/3037 8 September 1968

"18. Casualties: Major E.T.F, Flyger, United Nations Military Observer, Argentina, was very slightly wounded at OP Red* Wound caused by wood splinters from door. IDF Liaison Officer advised eight IDF soldiers killed and IT wounded, and two civilians wounded Kantara. "19. Damage: east side: Kantara Control Centre reported antenna damage, electric power line cut, water truck damaged and windows broken at Kantara Control Centre headquarters, OP Silvers two Caravans burnt out. Caravans damaged at OPs Gold and Red, Slight damage to Jeeps OP Kantara, OP Yellow light damage. West side: severe daaaye caused to Ismailia Control Centre headquarters and some damage to United Hationa residences. Full report of damage to follow."

* •**# -x- UNITED NATIONS Press Services Of^:'.c,e of Public rnfoj/rtatior United ifctlous. II,V. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — NOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SCi/T/r-19 9 September I960

SECRETARY-GENERAL _AMNOUNCS3 CJIACTGE IN HIS TRAVEL PLANS

The following announcement was made today by a United Nations spokem&n: The Secretary-General, U Thant, has decide:")., with great regret, to cancel at this time his scheduled visit to Libya* owing to the latest events in the Suez area and the current meetings of the Security Council. He hopes that a new, mutually convenient date for a visit could be arranged at the earliest opportunity. According to present plans, the Secretary-General intends to go to Algiers where he will attend the opening of the Assembly of Heads of State and Govern- ment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 13 September, at the invitation of the OAU and the Government of Algeria. On his way back to Hew York he will address the International Ifon-Governmental Organizations Conference on Human Rights in Paris. The Secretary-General plans to leave Hew York the evening of Wednesday, 11 September, and will return on lo September.

* See Press Release SG/T/218 dated h- September 1968 UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1003 SC/3039 10 September 1968

TEXT OF STATEMENT. BY, SECRCTARY-GBNERAL TO SECURITY COUNCIL ON 10 SEPTEMBER

Following is the text of a statement made by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to the Security Council at its meeting this morning: "At the meeting of the Security Council on the night of 8 September, the Representative of the Soviet Union questioned the use, in UNTSO1s report on the 8 September incident, of the expression 'Israel Defence Forces'. 'It may be useful at this stage for me to give a clarification on this point. The expression "Israel Defence Forces" or its abbreviated form 'IDF' has been used by UNTSO simply because this is the official title of the Israel armed forces. This practice has been followed by UNTSO for many years. There is no intention whatsoever in using this expression to describe or intimate the nature or purpose of the Israel armed forces."

* *••** * UNITED STATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, 5T.Y, (FOR USE OF I3SPCJRMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/GM/1014 27 September 19&8

TEXT OF STATEMENT BY SEGRETARY-GEICRAL 13 SECURITY COUNCIL FOLLOWING ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION ON 2? SEPTEMBER

With regard to paragraph 1 of the resolution just adopted, I need only call to the attention of the Council that, as indicated in my report (3/0699)7 I have been ready for some time to designate a Special Representative to undertake a second humanitarian mission to the Middle East, The Representative can be on his way with minimum delay once there is assurance that he vail have the access and co-operation indispensable to the fulfilment of his mission.

# UNITED NATIONS Press Services 'Office of Public Information United Nations, K.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

CAUTIOT^ADVANCS_T^CT ' • ' ' '. Press Release 3G/SM/1033 For release on delivery GA/AH/978 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY . 11 November 1968

TEXT' OF STATEMENT TO EE MADE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL... U THANT., IN SPECIAL POLITICAL COMMITTEE,. 11 NOVEMBER

This is the first time, I understand, that a Secretary-General has addressed this Committee during its consideration of the subject of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for. Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the Palestine refugees. I do so now only because I consider it to be my duty to call for special, attention of the Members of this Committee to certain acute situations, requiring urgent action. My purpose here, therefore, is to point out and underscore certain vital needs which are, in my view, an international responsibility. . . . • Before doing so, I may be permitted to make one general remark. For twenty years the Palestine refugees — well over one million of them — have had no homeland, no future and not even a detectable glimmer of hope on their horizon. We should remind ourselves, I think, that in all of these twenty years, the Gereral Assembly has not found it possible to take any significant step towards a real solution of this great and tragic human problem. It has found it possible mainly to discuss each year, at length, the arrangements to be made through UNRWA for the relief of the refugees in their present plight, without touching upon measures which might achieve a fundamental solution for them. This fact reflects upon us all and certainly upon the United Nations, and we should not allow ourselves to forget it in the debate which is ahead of us in this 'Committee. Having said that, I will proceed to the three main points to which I wish to call attention. In the first place, it is, in my view, clearly imperative that UNRWA be in a position to meet adequately the increased demands that have been placed on the Agency since June of last year. The report.of the Commissioner-General is before you and provides much detailed information about the current conditions

(more) - 2 - ' Frees Release SG/SM/1033 GA/AH/978 11 November 1968 of the refugees and the problems facing the Agency, The Commissioner-General himself will "be giving the Committee further information and clarifications. I do not propose, therefore, to go into detail in my statement today. I do wish, however, to draw the attention of the Committee, at the opening of its discussion on these matters, to the urgent necessity of meeting the responsibilities of the United Nations for the care of the refugees and displaced persons. At the outset, I may point to the basic question which faces this Committee under the item now being considered, namely, the renews! cf the mandate of UNRWA. It must be renewed, of course, Wot to continue UNRWA after next June would be, in my view, unthinkable. The international community which the United Nations represents cannot abandon this very large group of people for whose plight the United Nations must bear a considerable measure of responsibility without dealing a harsh blow to international morality and to the conscience of humanity which the United Nations must always seek to reflect. All Members know of the efforts being made by Ambassador Jarring under the terms Of the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967 to promote, among other objectives, the achievement of a just settlement of the refugee problem, I should like to take this opportunity to appeal to Governments to afford Ambassador Jarring all possible co-operation and assistance in finding a solution. Whatever success may ultimately attend these efforts, they are unavoidably directed towards a long-term solution which could not, by its very nature, immediately be put into effect. Pending the implementation of a just settlement of the refugee problem, some agency, obviously, must continue to perform the functions and supply the services which for so long now have been the responsibility of UNR¥A — providing shelter, food, health services, education and training facilities for the refugees. Certainly, the elimination of these services would make far more difficult the long-term settlement of the refugee problem which is being sought and \irhich must be achieved. It seems to me, therefore, that the renewal of UNR¥A's mandate is by far the most practicable, if not the only, method of continuing the main task of caring for the refugees until a final settlement of the refugee problem is achieved, I strongly urge that the Committee decide positively — and, I would hope, unanimously — on the renewal of the mandate of UNEWA for a suitable and reasonable period. / » - 3 - Tress Release SG/SM/1033 GA/AiI/9'(8 11 November 1Q68

Secondly, I wish to refer to a problem whidi will immediately arise if, as I hope, it is decided 'to continue UNR¥A. •' I have in mind the necessity of providing UIJRTJA -with the means for carrying out its task adequately and veil. The General Assembly, in its resolution 2252 (ES-V) of h July 1967, on humanitarian questions, made an urgent appeal to all Governments to make special contributions to UNRWA, It also appealed to other intergovernmental and non- governmental organizations for the purpose of obtaining the neans to meet the new demands of the refugee situation. The General Assembly last December repeated in resolution 23^1 of .19 Decenber 1967 its appeal to Governments to consider increasing their contributions to UNRWA, as well as to Governments, organizations and individuals to make special contributions to UNRWA or to other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations concerned, I myself have made various appeals, including one made jointly with the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization on 29 April 1968. Although some Governments have responded generously to the appeals for additional contributions for UNRWA, the total received has fallen short of what is required to meet its responsibilities,, In 1968, the Agency will again have to draw on its working capital to finance its operations. For 1569, to maintain the present programme of UNRWA activities will require some $^2.5 million — about $5 million above the level of expenditure before the June 1967 hostilities. Income is again likely to be inadequate — on present indications, by as much as $5 million. This would be very serious — almost catastrophic. The consequences in human suffering, as well as in complicating the efforts for a solution of the problems of the area, lead me to appeal once again, and this time most urgently, to all Governments to make contributions as generous as they possibly can in order that UNRWA will be enabled to meet this great humanitarian challenge to and responsibility of the United Nations. I raust emphasise that the increased requirements of UNRWA are not only to meet the special hardships of newly displaced persons and refugees, but also to make it possible for UNRWA to continue the services which it is already performing and which are vital both to the present and future well-being of the refugees,

(more) - U - Press Release SG/3M/1033 GA/AH/978 11 November 1963

As the Commissioner-General has pointed out in his report, the hostilities of June 1967 created a situation which has resulted in increased hardships for many of the existing refugees and the displacement of" large numbers of other psrsons as well. This situation has, in turn, greatly increased the task of UNR1/A and has also put an additional burden on the Governments in the area, in particular on the Governments of Jordan, Syria and the United Arab Republic. Since June 1967, further violent incidents, especially in the Jordan-Israel sector, have created a new displacement of refugees and other persons in Jordan, nany of whom, having fled from tha valleys, will be facing an even harder winter this year than they did last year, for they will be in tented camps on the hills, where climatic conditions are severe. As Secretary-General, I would be derelict in my duty if I did net recall to the Special Political Committee the resolutions of the Security Council and of the General Assembly relating to humanitarian questions, and in particular to Security Council resolution 237 (1967) of iH June 1967 which, among other things, asked that the return of those inhabitants who have fled the areas since the outbreak of hostilities be facilitated. A similar appeal was made by the General Assembly in its resolution 2252 (ES-V) of U July 1967, a resolution which also endorses the efforts of the Commissioner-General of IMWA to provide humanitarian assistance, as far as- practicable, on an emergency basis and as a temporary measure, to persons other than refugees in the area who were displaced and were in serious need of immediate assistance as a result of the hostilities. This resolution was. reaffirmed by the General Assembly, on the basis of the report of this Committee, in Assembly resolution 23^1 (XXII) B of 19 December 1967. It cannot be questioned that the plight of many of the refugees could best be relieved immediately by their return to their homes and to the camps which they formerly occupied. For the displaced persons, the only remedy that would appear to be at once acceptable and practical is their early return to their former places of residence. Although efforts have been made to secure such a return both for the refugees and the displaced persons, the results in terms of the numbers who have actually returned have been relatively small. I think it is necessary to state that if the camps on the West Bank could again serve their original purpose, and if the displaced persons could return to their former homes,

(more) - 5 - Press Release SG/SM/1033 GA/AH/978 11 November 1968 a long step vould have been taken towards reducing the hardships faced by a large number of the refugees and displaced persons in Jordan. At the same time, it would reduce the financial burdens on the Agency. I realize, however, that a major factor and a possible obstacle to such a development from the standpoint of the displaced persons and refugees themselves, and conceivably of the Government of Israel as well, is the continuing occupation by Israel forces of the area concerned and the lack of any present indication as to when that occupation will be terminated.and peaceful conditions prevail. May I conclude with a general comment. Of all the humanitarian situations with which the United Nations is concerned, the plight of the Palestine refugees should arouse the most active compassion of all the Governments and peoples of the United Nations, for we are dealing here with nothing less than a 20-year-old tragedy for a group of people who considerably outnumber the whole population of a number of the States which are members of the United Nations. Members may differ on the rights and wrongs of the situation in the Middle East, of which the Palestine refugees are the innocent and long-suffering victims* Efforts may be exerted through the United Nations, or outside it, to find solutions to the problems of the Middle East, of which the refugee problem is a major one. I believe, however, that everyone will agree that the tragedy of the Palestine ref -ogees, who three times in twenty years have known at first-hand the cruel blast of war, deaands that the United Nations should live up generously, and without hesitation, to its humanitarian duty towards them. I earnestly hope the action of this Committee collectively, and of its Members individually, will allow the United Nations to meet this responsibility to the fullest possible extent.

# *** * UNITED NATIONS Presn Services Office 6f p-'.Xic li voiju&tion United Nations, N,Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3503 18 January 1969

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary-General, U Thant, in answer to questions put to him "by correspondents as he entered the United Nations Secretariat building on Saturday, 18 January 1969:

Questioned by correspondents on his arrival at Headquarters today, the Secretary-General, U Thant, first was asked for comment on the proposal by France (made in a statement by the spokesman for the French Foreign Ministry) that the Big Four representatives in the Security Council meet to discuss peace efforts in the Middle East. "I'm sure you understand that I don't think it would be in the public interest to come out with a comment now," the Secretary-General replied. "As far as my position is concerned, I stand by every word of what I said on 3 January."* In response to a further question as to whether he would comment later, he said "at the appropriate time" he would do so. (more) On 3 January, a United Nations spokesman said in reply to questions that the Secretary-General "welcomes recent initiatives for a meeting of the 'Big Four' regarding the situation in the Middle East, since the intention is to seek a solution within the framework of Security Council resolution Q.k2. of 22 November 196? and to support the efforts of the Special Represen- tative, Ambassador Jarring", On h January, the Secretary-General told correspondents that the reference to "recent initiatives" concerned proposals which had been made recently by Pope Paul VI and by the President of the Security Council for December, Ambassador Makonnen of Ethiopia, He added that preliminary discussions would of course be necessary, "Once a formula is agreed, the Big Four can meet anywhere, even in the Security Council* It is however important that they try to find a solution for the Middle East problem within the framework of the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967, and through support for the efforts of the Special Representative, Ambassador Jarring," (Notes No. 3^96, 3^97/Rev.l.) - 2 - Note No. 3503 18 January 1969

Asked whether a meeting of the Big Four would give the needed impetus to the efforts of Ambassador Gunnar Jarring, U Thant said: "From my point of view, what is important is that their endeavours either collectively or separately to contribute to peace in the Middle East must be only within the context of the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967. Only within the United nations context — that is most important," Asked about suggestions as to the possibility of a United Nations peace force in the area, he said: "These would be matters for discussions". The Secretary-General then was asked whether he could comment on any response to his recent telegram to Equatorial Guinea, supporting the request of the International Committee of the Red Cross that flights for humanitarian assistance into "Biafra" be allowed to continue. "I hope we will be able to make an appropriate statement at the right time," he replied. (The Secretary-General later met with the Minister of External Affairs of Equatorial Guinea,. Atanasio Wdong, at the latter's request; see Uote Ho. 350*u) Asked whether he still believed, as he had stated in his letter of 7 October to the Foreign Ministers of France, Soviet Union, United Kingdom and United States, that a meeting of the Big Four would be useful in giving guidance to the Jarring mission, the Secretary-General said: "Definitely". As to when Ambassador Jarring's efforts would be resumed, U Thant said "I am in constant touch with him". With regard to recent developments concerning Lebanon and Israel, he said "I am trying my best to ease tensions in the area", and had been in constant touch with both Governments. Asked about the possibility of stationing UWTSO units on both sides, he stated: "On this, you know the attitude of the respective parties." UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y, (FOR USE OF nJEOEttWriOri MEDIA — WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS Note No. 3507 27 January 1969

The following statement was made today "by a United Nations spokesman:

The Secretary-General has learned with regret and concern of the announcement of the sentencing and hanging in Iraq, of 15 persons charged with espionage, nine of whom were Jews. In the view of the Secretary-General, mass trials and executions are always to be deplored and are particularly abhorrent and dangerous when they are carried out in such way as to inflame the emotions of the populace. As soon as he had learned of the trials "being held in Iraq., the Secretary- General, on 13 January, asked the Permanent Representative of Iraq to convey to his Government the Secretary-General's deep concern about them, and particularly about the impact they would have on public opinion both inside and outside Iraq* In the exercise of Ms good offices on humanitarian grounds the Secretary-General did not ;^e,-,-tJcn the riplit c? the Government of Iraq, to put on trial any of its own citizens, as were apparently all of those convicted nor could he attempt to appraise the validity of the charges. The Secretary-General fears that the repercussions from this unhappy development will also be likely to impede efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict situation in the Middle East.

# *#* * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. — WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Mote No. 3510 7 February 1969

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following statement was made today by a United Nations spokesman: The Secretary-General feels that an auspicious beginning has been made in our common search for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Under the United Nations Charter the permanent members of the Security Council have a special responsibility to see that the Council operates effectively in a crisis situation like that prevailing in the Middle East. In the view of the Secretary-General the Council can perform its functions in the Middle East only with the involvement of the big Powers and the co-operation of the parties directly concerned in the conflict.

##-* UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y. (FOR USE o? INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/10JO 26 February 1969

TEXTJ3F_MESS1AGE_FROM SECRETARY GENERAL, U IHANT., TO FOREIGN MINISTER OF ..ISRAEL

Following is the text of a cable sent today by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, Abba Eban: I was deeply distressed to learn of the passing of Prime Minister Levi Eshkol following a heart attack. Please accept, and convey to the members of the Government and the Prime Minister's family, my profound sympathy and sincere condolences <.

* *## * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release 26 February 1969

TEXT OF LETTER FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL TO FOREIGN MINISTER OF ISRAEL

Following is the text of a letter dated 26 February from the Secretary- General, U Thant, to the Foreign Minister of Israel, Abba Eban:

Sir, ~s I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter to me of 20 February 1969 relating to the attack upon an El Al aircraft in Zurich on 18 February. In pursuance of your request your letter was transmitted to all members of the United Nations in the customary form of a note verbale. In response to a subsequent request by the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations it has also been circulated as an official document of the General Assembly and the Security Council. You have inquired as to what constructive international action is envisaged to prevent such acts of violence against international civil aviation in the future. Even before your letter was received I was in contact with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and the International Air Transport Association, regarding the Zurich incident, and I have kept in close touch with ICAO since. I am also consulting with certain Members of the United Nations specially concerned, with a view to finding means to prevent such acts of violence. There is no question that every effort should be made to put an end to attacks on civilian carriers which endanger innocent passengers and jeopardize international travel, from whatever quarter they may come. As I said through nsy spokesman on 18 February 1969 after the Zurich incident,

"Such attacks, involving as they do a great risk to innocent persons and the disruption of an important branch of international communication, are a matter of urgent concern to all governments and peoples. If the hitherto peaceful world of civil aviation is to be saved from chaos and anarchy, governments and peoples, regardless of their political views, must condemn acts of this kind and take all possible measures to prevent them."

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/1071 26 February 1969

In this connexion, improved methods of international police co-operation and regulations of a national as well as an international character may contribute towards the prevention of these acts of terrorism and violence. However, I "believe that the only sure way to bring an end to terrorist acts would be some substantial movement toward a peaceful settlement of the major issues underlying the Middle East conflict. In the circumstances,, I hope you will agree that, although there may be some scope for positive action by the Secretary-General in a matter of this kind, the most natural and proper recourse, and that which should hold the best promise for constructive international action, is clearly the Security Council. It is my firm conviction that the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967 offers the only practical basis for the promotion of a just and lasting peace in the area. I also 'remain convinced that progress towards this goal can be made through the dedicated efforts of Ambassador Jarring to assist and promote agreement between the parties with the active co-operation especially of the major powers. An essential first step towards this end, in my view, would be a declared readiness by the parties to implement the Security Council resolution of November 22, 196?. In this connexion let me recall what I have stated on another occasion, that "if only all the resolutions and decisions of the principal deliberative organs of the United Nations were heeded by the parties primarily concerned in the area, there would be no Middle East problem today." In spite of the apparent lack of progress in the search for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, my abiding faith in the United Nations as the instrument for obtaining ultimate success remains unshaken. Indeed I can see no practical alternative to the active continuation of this search. Since your letter under reference has been circulated as an official document of the General Assembly and the Security Council I have arranged that this letter be circulated similarly. I am also arranging for my spokesman's statement of 18 February, to which you have referred in your letter, to be circulated as a document of the General Assembly and the Security Council. Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

* UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA— NOT AH OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1072 10 March 1969

TEXT OF LETTER FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL TO FOREIGN MINISTER.OF I3RAEL

Following is the text of a letter dated 10 March from the Secretary- General, U Thant, to the Foreign Minister of Israel, Abba Eban:

Sir, I have the honour to acknowle'dre receipt of your letter of 5 March 19^9 in reply to my letter of 26 February 1969, concerning the attack on an El Al aircraft on 18 February 1969 in Zurich. One point in your letter requires some clarification and I feel that the episode to which it refers should be described in more detail, since no record of it was made public at the time. You refer to the request conveyed to me through the Permanent Representa- tive of Israel to put two questions to certain Arab Governments and state that you regret that these questions were not conveyed. Ambassador Tekoah transmitted to me on 19 February, by an informal aide-memoire, the request of the Government of Israel that two questions should be transmitted through the good offices of the Secretary-General to the Governments of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the.United Arab Republic. The questions were as follows:. • "1. The Government of Israel desires to be advised whether the Secretary-General can assu&e that the above Governments, members of the United Nations and signatories to the international conventions on aviation firmly dissociate themselves from the acts of violence of the kind that have been committed at airports of countries that are not involved in the Middle East conflict. "2, The Palestine Liberation Front has announced its responsibility for the acts committed in Rome, Athens and Zurich. It is known that this organization maintains contact with the above-mentioned Governments and enjoys their material and moral support. The Government of Israel desires to know whether these Governments are prepared to take steps against the organizers and perpetrators of the acts referred to above so as to ensure the cessation of such acts."

(more) » 2 - Press Release SG/SM/1072 10 March 1969

I gave my reaction to this request to Ambassador Tekoah at the same meeting on 19 February, and this reaction was embodied in an informal aide- memoire which I gave to Ambassador Tekoah on 20 February. The 'text of that aide-memoire was as follows: "The Secretary"General has already expressed his deep concern over the Zurich incident and previous incidents of a similar nature. He is giving serious and urgent consideration to the matter, and to the steps that may be effective in helping to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in. the future. He believes that such steps are more likely to be productive if taken on his own initiative. "Recourse to the good offices of the Secretary-General is available to all Member Governments, and the Secretary-General will be glad to respond to such a request whenever he feels, in his discretion and judgement., that such action would be helpful. In general, it would not be hc".pful if the Secretary-General were to transmit questions or ncpsages of a political or controversial nature from one government to another unless the parties concerned have previously agreed to such a procedure, "Therefore, the Secretary-General considers that it would not be helpful if he were to act on the request of the Government of Israel that he should transmit certain questions to Arab Governments. The Secretary-Genera.! has suggested, however, that a communication from the Government of Israel to the Security Council might be an appropriate method of bringing these questions to the attention of those concerned." You will understand, I am sure, my de.sire to have the full background of this matter on the record. I note your view, Mr. Minister, that the need is "to break out of th« semantic and declaratory phase", but I must reiterate my conviction that an essential first step toward a just and lasting peace in the area would be a declared readiness by the parties to implement the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967. I certainly would not regard such a declaration as a semantic exercise. Since your letter under reference has been circulated as a document of the General Assembly and the Security Council, I have arranged that this letter be circulated similarly. Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

* UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y. (FOR USB OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECCED)

Press Release SG/SM/1076 PAL/1126 13 March 1969

TEXT OF MESSAGE FROM SgCKCTARY--GEMEPAI..TO UNTSO CHIEF OF STAFF

Following is the text of a message sent today "by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to Lieut. Gen. Odd Bull, Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UWTSO):

I extend to you and to all I3M)SO personnel at headquarters and in the field my congratulations on your excellent performance during the trying events of recent days. Please convey a special message of appreciation to the Observers in the Suez, Canal sector for their steadfast conduct and effective reporting in very difficult and dangerous conditions. They have displayed great courage and resourcefulness in maintaining the observation operation under fire in spite of risk to themselves and heavy damage to installations, vehicles and equipment.

_y V y. y y 77 'fTft A" 7? UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (P9R USE OF INFOBMATI^N MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 5518 15 March 19&9

NOTE TO COPP^ESPOHDEHTS

In answer to questions put to him by correspondents on his talks today with the Foreign Minister of Israel, Abba Eban, the Secretary-General, U Thant, said he and the Foreign Minister had had "a useful and long exchange of views on many aspects of the situation in the Middle East". He added: "naturally, I stressed my long-held view regarding the fact that time is essential, and that the longer we delay the more serious, complex and difficult the situation will get. I also stressed the need to press on with our common task with a real sense of urgency*1. Asked about the prospects of the four-Power talks starting on the Middle East, he said he got the impression that talks among the Permanent Representatives tf* "~~^* " of the big four Powers might take place next week, although he had had no official notification to this effect.

# *** # UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information Unites Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/231 25 April 1969

SECRETARY-GENERAL.. U THANT, ARRIVES IN LONDON

(The following was received from the United Nations Information Centre, London.)

The Secretary-General, U Thant, arrived in London oa 2k April and was greeted at the airport by Sir Keyils Blaad> $peqi$l Representative of the Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs in the Protocol department, on behalf of the United Kingdom Government. Also present at the airport was the Ambassador of Burma to the United Kingdom, U Ba Saw. Today, at 11 a.m., the Secretary-General met in a five-minute session with a deputation that included Lord Byers, Lord Brockway, the Archdeacon of Oxford and a representative of the Free Church Federation Council, together with the President and several members of the British Board of Jewish Deputees. They submitted a petition asking the Secretary-General to use his good offices with the Governments of Iraq, Syria and the United Arab Republic to permit Jewish people to leave those countries. The signatories of the petition included over a hundred members of the House of Commons and 12 members of the House of Lords* The Secretary-General, in accepting the petition, said that he continued to exercise his good offices in all matters affecting human rights and that he had concern for Jewish, Arab, Christian or any other peoples or faiths facing problems involving human rights. Before lunch, the Secretary-General, accompanied by the Burmese Ambassador, paid a personal visit to General Ne Win, Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Burma, and his wife, who are visiting London, •

(more) - 2 .- Press Release SG/T/231 25 April 1969

At 1 p.m., the Secretary-General, attended the luncheon given in his honour by Michael Stewart, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the . United Kingdom. Others present at the luncheon were Goronwy Roberts, i Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and officials of the Foreign and } Commonwealth Office. At 3 p.m., the Secretary-General held a 15-minute meeting with Frank Judd, a Member of Parliament, and Michael Lakin of the Co-ordinating Committee for the International Voluntary Services Organization (COCO), an organization concerned with international programmes of voluntary workers, (it is accredited with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is based in Paris.) The meeting was held to emphasize the importance of the programme of voluntary community work with which COCO is associated in both the East and West and to thank the Secretary-General for his initiative and the intei-^st shown.by Mm /md the United Nations family.

# ##* --"' UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD}.

Press Release SG/T/2^5 7 May 1969

SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THANT, RETURNS AFTER VISIT TO EUROPE

(The following is based on information received from the United Nations Information Centret Rome.)

The Secretary-General, U .Thantj arrived, back in New York from Rome at k:kO p.m. on 6 May, following eenspXetion of .his visit to Europe. Earlier in the day in Rome, the Secretary-General first addressed a session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the World Food Programme (WFP) at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Accompanied by Addeke H. Boerma, Director-General of FAO, and Francisco

Aquino, Executive Director of WFPr the Secretary-General arrived at the Committee meeting and was welcomed to the Committee session by the Chairman of the fifteenth session, John George McArthur (New Zealand). In his., address to, the Committee, U Thant stated: "This is the first time I have been able to attend the Intergovernmental Committee and to express to its"members in person my best wishes for the success of your deliberations. May I say how much.I appreciate this privilege and how pleased I am to be here ia your-company with my colleague, Mr. Boerma, Director-General of FAO." The Secretary-General said that he attached great importance to the activities of WFP and that he was "gratified by the over-all results which it has achieved". He observed that the Programme had been established by the United Nations and FAO to help meet the challenge of poverty. The United Nations system, he went on, had to assist the governments of the world to plan a "global strategy of development", and in the execution of this strategy, the WFP had .an important role to play. The WFP since 1963 had become an established instrument of "proven effectiveness and flexibility", adding a. "aew dimension" to the United Nations potential in the field of development, he added. The Secretary-General went on to say that, "if the Programme is to play its full part in the coming decade, there is no doubt' in my mind that it also required substantially- larger resources"^ In this respect, he said that he (more) - 2 - Press Release SG/T/2^5 7 May 1969

fully supported the proposal for a higher' target put forward on 5 May by Francisco Aquino, Executive Director of WFP. (The target proposed is $400 million in food, cash, shipping and other services; for further details of address, see Press Release SG/T/243-FAO/1995-WFP/211 of 6 May.) $i Following his address to the WFP committee, the Secretary-General returned to his office at FAO headquarters, where he was met by Rolando Clementoni, Senior Papal Dignatory, who together with three other papal officials conducted the Secretary-General and his party from FAO headquarters to Vatican City. Upon arrival at the Cortile Sandamaso courtyard of the Vatican Palace, the Secretary-General was greeted by Marchese Sacchetti, Special Delegate of the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican'City States; Marchese Roberto Grossi di Camposevoli, Secret Chamberlain; Monsignor Jacques Martin, Titular Bishop of Weapolis in Palestine and Prefect of the Apostolical Palace; and Monsignor Pasquale Macchi, the Pope's Secretary. The Secretary-General was then conducted to the presence of Pope Paul VI. After having spent l»-5 minutes alone with the Pope -- with the exception of an interpreter -- the Secretary-General called in other members of his party into the study and presented them to the Pope. Pope Paul then presented U Thant with a painting of Rome"and with a large volume of drawings by Michaelangelq. The Pope also presented Vittorio Winspeare Guicciardi, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, and each other member of the party with a book containing, inter alia, many photographs of the Pope's travels entitled "Paul VI --The Development of Peoples and Peace in the World," After having taken leave of the Pope, the Secretary-General and his party proceeded to the office of the Secretary of State of the Pope. The Secretary- General first met alone with the new Secretary of State, Jean Cardinal Villot, and later presented the members of his party. Cardinal Villot then presented various Holy See dignitaries to the Secretary-General, including Monsignor Giovanni Benelli, Titular Archbishop of Tusuro, substitute of the Secretariat of State, and Monsignor Agostino Casaroli, Titular Archbishop of Cartagine and Secretary of the Council of Public Affairs of the Church. After having taken leave of the Secretary of State, the Secretary-General and party proceeded to Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport. At the airport, the Secretary-General made the following statement: "Before my departure for New York, I wish to express my very sincere thanks and gratitude to the Government and people of Italy for the very warm hospitality (more) - 3 - Press Release SG/T/2^5 7 May 1969 offered to me during my brief stay in Rome. I had the opportunity of exchanging views with the leaders of your historical country, particularly the President, the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and Senator Boasco, and I must say that these discussions have been very useful. I am reassured that the Government of Italy has repeatedly reiterated its co-operation with the United Nations, and all leaders of the Government have reiterated their dedication and devotion to the United Nations and its ideas and ideals. It has been one of the most rewarding experiences. "As you all know, I was honoured last night by the Mayor of Rome and, just now, I had an audience with the Holy Father. Meetings with the Holy Father were always a great source of inspiration to me in the discharge of my duties as Secretary-General. The Holy Father also assured me of his continuous co-operation with the United Satlons in our common search for peace and progress and, in conclusion, I must say that I am very happy to have seen my friend and old colleague, President Fanfani. We had very informal and positive conversation yesterday and I am glad to have seen him in very good form." Thereafter, the Secretary-General agreed to answer a few questions put to him by the Press. Asked whether he had been informed about the situation in the Middle East during his absence from Headquarters, he said: "Yes, since I left Hew York, I have been in daily touch with my office and I was briefed very comprehensively by my office and, of course, as you know, permanent members of the Security Council have been meeting also during my absence and it is my understanding that they will report to me the results of their deliberations on my return to Hew York." Asked if a decision has been taken on removing United Nations Observers from the Suez Canal, he said: "No, there was no such decision. Of course, it is far from my intention to remove them." Asked whether the situation in the Middle East was deteriorating, he replied: "Well, I believe that the situation in the Middle East has been deteriorating and continues to deteriorate, as I said in Geneva a couple of days ago. The Security Council resolution of November 19^7 is the only basis by which enduring peace with justice can be established in that area. For a proper implementation of that resolution, in my view, greater involvement of

(more) Press Release SG/T/2^5 7 May 1969 peroionert members of the Security Council is essential. Permanent members of the- :-?.:.nr?.ty Council have a special responsibility, "because of their special 3i-p.-j.us under the Charter, and before I left New York they told me that they were guardedly optimistic about the progress of their deliberation, and, as I said a couple of days ago, I agree with their assessment that the situation in the Middle East is serious and needs urgent attention. If there is no agreement by permanent members on substantial issues of the problem, say, in the next one or two months, I am afraid that the situation may get out of hand". Asked whether the Jarring Mission had in his opinion produced any positive results after 18 months since the adoption of the Security Council resolution, he said: "As you all know, Ambassador Jarring has been quietly, patiently and wisely involved in a search for peace on the basis of the Security Council resolution, without achieving any perceptible results in the last one and a half year, so I don't believe he would like to repeat this more or less futile exercise for another year or two, but, as you all know, the stated purpose of permanent members of the Security Council is to help Ambassador Jarring. This is still their primary objective. So, if permanent members of the Security Council can come up with some agreed formula, it would be a tremendous help to Ambassador Jarring." The following query was then made: "The Israeli Government declared a few days ago that they will not withdraw from the occupied territories, and the Arabs stated that there is.no possibility of opening negotiations until the Israelis leave the occupied territories. In your opinion, which is a solution to this problem?" The Secretary -General answered: "Well, this is a matter before permanent members of the Security Council and, as far as I know, there has been some progress on some aspects of this problem." The Secretary-General then left Rome airport at 1:20 p.m. (local time) for New York. He was seen off at the airport, on behalf of the Italian Government, by Corrado Orlandi Contucci, Chief of Protocol of the Italian Republic, Piero Vinci, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations; and Elio Guiffries, Head of the United Nations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also at the airport were Mr. Winspeare Guicciardi and various other United Nations officials. * #*# # UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Hations, W.Y. (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECQ3D)

Press Release SG/T/245/Corr.T 7 May 1969

SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THANT, RETURNS AFTER VISIT TO EUROPE

CORRECTION

In Press Release SG/T/245, the second last paragraph on page k should read: "The Secretary-General then left Rome airport at 1:20 p.m. (local time) for Nev York. He vas seen off at the airport, on behalf of the Italian Government, by Corrado Orlandi Contucci, Chief of Protocol of the Italian Republic, Piero Vinci, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations; and Elio Giuffrida. Head of the United Nations Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." Also in Press Release 80/1/2*14 of 6 May, the name of the official should be corrected to read "Elio Giuffrida,"

* **# * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/UM SC/3115 23 August 1969

TEXT OF LETTER TO SECRETARY-GENERAL AND SECURITY COUNCIL FROM GROUP OFlMUSLIlJiCOIMTHIES

Following is the text of a letter transmitted on 22 August 1969 to the Secretary-General and to the President of the Security Council by the representatives of Afghanistan, Algeria, Guiata, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Southern Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Republic and Yemen:

"Excellency, "On behalf of our Governments, we, the undersigned, have the honour to draw the attention of the members of the United Nations to the grave event of 21 August 1969 in Jerusalem when the Alaqsa Mosque, one of the holiest shrines in Islam, was extensively damaged by arson. The occurrence of this outrage during the time that Jerusalem is under the military occupation of Israeli authorities has filled the population of our countries with profound horror and grief. "2. Since the sacred precincts in Jerusalem proclaimed the spiritual brotherhood of man in God, any damage or desecration of the hallowed rites of one faith cannot but cause anguish to the devoted adherents of another. Our Governments and peoples are, therefore, confident that their sorrow will be shared by all governments and peoples who cherish the abiding values of the human spirit and hold the Holy City in the highest reverence. "3- We recall that when, soon after the beginning of Israeli occupation, a burglary was committed in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the gold halo and tiara of the statue of the Virgin Mary were removed, our peoples were similarly horrified. In that case, their sense of abhorrence was lessened only by the restoration of the sacred objects though after a public outcry and a certain lapse of time. Jmore) *• 2 - Press Release SG/SM/llM SC/3115 23 August 1969

"k. Events of this nature have had no'parallel in the history of Jerusalem for centuries prior to Israeli military occupation. Mindful of their symptomatic significance, we vish to impress upon the Security Council and the General Assembly that such events add a vast dimension of human indignation to the situation in Jerusalem and thus further aggravate the threat to peace which that situation constitutes. "5« We, therefore, emphasize the urgency of suitable action by the United Nations towards — (a) an impartial investigation into the grave event of 21 August 1969; (b) preventing the' recurrence of any act of vandalism against, or .profanation of, the Holy Places in Jerusalem; .(c) enabling the representatives of the Governments of Islamic countries cto assess the damage to the Holy Alaqsa Mosque and to prepare and execute plans 'for its repair. "6. While wishing to emphasize that such action can be taken independently of the full implementation of the Security Council resolutions 252 (1968) and 267 (1969), we may recall that, by these resolutions, the Security Council has censured in the strongest terms the measures taken by Israel to change the status of the City of Jerusalem, confirmed that these measures are invalid and called upon Israel to rescind them forthwith and in future to refrain from all actions designed to alter the status of the City. It follows-that neither the Security Council nor any Member State of the United Nations, faithful to its decisions, can extend even an implicit recognition to the validity or legitimacy of Israeli authority over the Holy City. No tacit consent can, therefore, be given to any measures which, in order to delude world public opinion, the Israeli authorities may announce towards an inquiry into the causes of the outbreak of fire in the Holy Mosque and the repair of the damage caused. "7. We request that the text of this telegraphic communication be circulated as a document of the Security Council/General Assembly. "Accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration."

# *** * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/11^6 25 August 1969

TEXT OF STATEMENT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL ON 23 AUGUST

It is with regret and misgivings that I learn that the executions of 15 persons, two of whom reportedly were Christians and two others Jews and the rest Muslims, have been carried out in Iraq this morning. I cannot help but feel that this will increase tension and danger in the Middle East, which already poses a grave threat to peace. I first learned of the intended executions by radio reports on Sunday morning, 2U August. These reports continued throughout the day, but 1 was unable to get an/official word about the matter. When, on Sunday evening, I was finally able to make contact with the acting Permanent Representative of Iraq, who had been out of the city, I /'asked him to convey urgently to his Government my serious concern about the international repercussions that would be likely to follow the executions, I did not, of course, question the right of the Government of Iraq to try and sentence anyone within its jurisdiction who might be charged with serious offence, but I did question the contemplated action on both humanitarian and political grounds. In this connexion, I would refer to and reiterate the views I expressed in my statement to the Press on 27 January 1969 (Note No. 350?) and my reply to a question on the same subject in the course of ray press conference of 28 January 19&9 (Press Release SG/SM/1062).

7.Vf. UNITED NATIONS Press services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR US:, OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD) Note No. 3556 20 September 1969 NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

Following is the text of a statement read by a United Nations spokesman tonight following a dinner given by the Secretary-General, U Thant, for the Foreign Ministers of France, the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States:

The Foreign Ministers of France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States met with the Secretary-General for a discussion. They directed their attention to the situation in the Middle East, which they regarded as increasingly serious and urgent.

1, They reaffirmed that resolution 242 of the Security Council dated 22 November 196? should be supported and earried out, 2, They agreed that durable peace should be established in the Middle East. 3. They reaffirmed that all States in the Middle East have an inalienable right to exist as independent and sovereign states. 4. With the above objectives in mind the conversations and contacts already established will be continued*

# ##* * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3565 8 October 1969

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following statement was made by a United Nations spokesman today: The Secretary-General has instructed me to deny formally a statement in a Columbia Broadcasting System news report broadcast at 1 p.m. today which said that Ambassador Gunnar Jarring was abandoning his mission as the Scretary- General's Special Representative to the Middle East. There is no truth in this statement. Ambassador Jarring wishes to be associated with this denial. As was explained at the OPI noon briefing today, Ambassador Jarring has not suspended his mission in the past nor is he doing so now. He remains available to the parties and has established effective and expeditious channels of communication with them. This exceptional statement is being made because it is felt that this incorrect report could be very damaging to Ambassador Jarring's mission. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public lafcitation United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3585 1 December 1969

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following statement was issued "by a United Nations spokesman today:

In view of the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, the Secretary- General welcomes the resumption of the Big Four talks. He very much hopes that they will exert their utmost to contribute to a just and peaceful solution of the Middle East problem in the framework of the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967. The Secretary-General is convinced that these talks and the eventual agreement of the Big Four, as Permament Members of the Security Council, designed as they are to reinforce Ambassador JarringTs Mission, provide the best possible solution to this problem.

* *## * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, K.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — N011 AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

TRANSCRIPT J3F PRE3S CONITSRSECE BY SECRETARY-GENERAL,._ U THANT. HELD AT HEADQUARTERS ON 22 DECH^IBER 1969 - 1 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

The SECRETARY-GME?AL; I first give the floor to the President of UNCA, Mr. Mike LittleJohns.

Mr. LITTLEJOHKS (President of UNCA); Mr. Secretary-General, on the occasion of this, your last press conference of 19^9^ may Ison behalf of the Correspondents corps, vish you, your family and all your colleagues in the Secretariat and, through the tra.nscri.pt of these proceedings, all the Missions, the compliments of the season. May 1970 truly be a year of peace, justice and progress for all of us. On a personal note, I wish to thank you for the many kindnesses you have extended to me dui'i/ij; this year of my Presidency of UNCA, and for your constant understanding and co-operation. May I also express the fervent hope that you will have a successful and safe journey on your forthcoming extended tour of Africa, during part of which, I also expect to have the pleasure of reporting the proceedings. May I say also that I think it was a very nice idea of yours to invite some of the African Ambassadors to be here today at this Press Conference. We are very glad to see them here.

Th^_SE^^ARY-GE^RAL; President Little Johns and friends: I must say that I am deeply touched by the very kind words of Mr. LittleJohns. As he has said, the co-operation rendered by the UNCA under his distinguished Presidency, the co-operation granted to me, as well as to my senior colleagues, has been exemplary. Mr. Littlejohno personally has shown unfailing courtesy, understanding and co-operation with me, and, of course, as all of you are aware he is relinguishing his Presidency in the next two weeks or so. I want to take this opportunity of expressing my very sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to him and to all the members of UNCA for the degree of co-operation which has existed in the past year. Since we are meeting here just before the seasonal holidays, I want to extend my very best wishes to all of you for a happy holiday and all the best in the New Year. Before I take on your questions, I have a very short statement to make.

(more) ~ 2 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December

I am happy to inform you that, on the invitation of the Heads of State or Government, I shall soon undertake an official visit to ten African countries. As you know, this is a long deferred project. Soon after taking office, I was invited by several African Heads of State or Government to visit their countries. My plans for a trip to seven countries during the summer of 19^7 had to be c?.ncell--;~ because of the increased tension in the Middle East. As you remember, in Jaly 19^9? a few weeks before my departure on a trip which was to include some nine African countries, I had to abandon my plans again because of ill health. Now, I am able to resume these plans and I shall leave Hew York on 29 December and arrive in Africa on 30 December. My official visit will begin in Mauritania on 31 December am\ 7. will visit, successively, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, Ghana, Cameroon — where I have been invited to attend the celebrations for its tenth anniversary of independence «•- Togo, Niger, Upper Volta and the Ivory Coast. I shall leave the Ivory Coast on 18 January 1970 for New York. Because of other engagements in New York, I must limit my absence to a maximum of three weeks and, unfortunately, the duration, of my stay in each country will not exceed one day and a half or two days. However, I am very much looking forward to this trip and hope to have fruitful exchanges of view with many leaders in Africa. As you all know, among the original Members of the United Nations in 19^6, the entire African continent was represented by only four countries. Since 1955» thirty-eight new African countries have been admitted as a result of the decolonization. These new States and our Organization have much in common: the United Nations often played a major role in their accession to independence and you are all aware of the important place they now have among us. I have already met with many of their leaders here at Headquarters and when I attended the Conferences of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, and it pleases me that I shall soon have an opportunity to renew my friendly contacts with them and establish new ones with those I will meet for the first time. I should like also to draw your attention to the fact that two of the countries I shall visit are former Trust Territories and consequently have had in the past close relations with the United Nations,

(more) - 3 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

In addition to the ten countries included in this trip, I have received invitations from a number of other Governments which I hare accepted in principle, I deeply regret that I have not been able this time to visit all of them, but I hope to have an opportunity to undertake these visits at a later time. . -I should like to finish by saying that I am very happy to begin on African soil a new. decade which will be so important for our Organisation, and for that matter the international community. I give the floor to the President of UWCA.

Mr. LITTLEJOHMS (President of UNCA): Again, Sir, God speed on your forthcoming journey, and my thanks to you for your very kind remarks about UECA and about me personally. In my case,I think that you are cora than generous, more generous -than.-1. deserve. Now, Sir, to my question. It is about two years since Ambassador Jarring became your Special Representative. Yet the problems of the Middle East, far from abating, seem to have worsened- you may be aware that there have been some small murmurings of discontent about Dr. Jarring1s role in the search for peace. Some persons feel that he should.be more active, more of a mediator and less of a messenger, more in the Middle East and less in Moscow. May I ask you, Sir, to evaluate the Middle East situation at this time with special -eferej3.ee i.to Dr. Jarring1 s mission.

(more) Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 'Decesibsr 1969

L: I agree with the promise of your question; that the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated. I have "jeen saying that for the pact several months , and I am afraid tliat, if there is no peaceful solution in time, the situation may get out of hand, As far as the Secretary-General ' s Special Representative, Avabaasador Jarring, is concerned, as you all know ho has to function within i£c framework of the Security Council resolution of November 1967. Hie primary function is to promote agreement. He is not expected to function as a mediator. I think we have to make that- distinction very clsar. As I said on a previous occasions hs has excrci'sed his factions vita wisdom with discretion and with a very rare degree of ^activity for over a y-aar, I did r/nt think earlier -this year and I do not 'think now that he wcnld like to repeat this more or less futile exercise without the prospect of a peaoef-ol opening to a solution. So ray position on this question is very clear, Fir at of all, I feel that the Security Cc'trieil. as envisaged in. the Char'ccr, has a special respone.LMlity to contri"bute towards a just and Ic.e-fclng peace in the Middle East. In oruar to en&ble the Security Couiicil to perfo'tn itr> fanctl.ons efficiently and effectively, it is necessary —"it is evfen essential — that the permanent msmbcr-a of the Security Council exert their utmost to formulate principles or guidcjlines to facilitate the work of the Seeretaiy-Genoral's

Special RepreS'^n.tative0 As you all know, in the past two years there has "been no real basis for Ambassador Jarring to operate. He has been performing his fancticm with a keen sense of responsibility, but he is still unable to find a real basis to start on concrete steps. Of course, I hs.ve kept him constantly informed of the developments in the political field. Whenever the Big Four met, the host ambassador, the ambassador who happened to preside over the particular meeting, invariably reported to me on the proceedings of the meeting, on the results of the discussion and on the conclusions arrived at; I always transmitted those reports to Ambassador Jarring, I also informed Ambassador Jarring of other political developments which I could gather from the Permanent Representatives of the countries directly involved in the area.

(more ) - 5 - Press Release 80/3^/1200 22 December 1969

So, the Secretary-General's Representative has been kept fully informed of the political developments, the progress or lack of progress in the Big Four deliberations . It is my feeling that the four permanent members of the Security Council vill come to some substantive agreement regarding the guidelines under which Ambassador Jarring can operate. Of course Ambassador Jarring -will resume his functions as soon as there is some progress in the deliberations of the Big Four. But the resumption of his functions does not necessarily depend on the progress of the Big Four talks; it -will depend primarily on the progress of the Big Four talkss but not exclusively.

QUESTION ; Mr. Secretary-General, several months ago instructions were issued to United Nations Information Centres around the world no longer to accept petitions submitted for relay to Headquarters. Subsequently, there have been reports of prison sentences metsd out to persons petitioin.r'g the United Nations in certain circumstances. Do you believe that individuals should have a right to petition the United Nations on such issues as human rights? And, if so, what channels should they use to ensure that their petitions are received by the appropriate persons or agencies?

The SECRETARY^GEKERAL; Well, first of all, I want to take exception to the use of the words "no longer" in your question, because United Nations Headquarters had never issued instructions to Information Centres abroad to accept complaints from individuals or groups of individuals for the purpose of transmitting those complaints to Headquarters. Let me make that very clear. From the inception of the Information Centres in many Member countries, no instructions were ever issued to them to accept and transmit complaints from individuals or groups of individuals regarding breaches of human rights or the corruption of some members of the Government, or any complaint against or criticism of the host Government. There vere never such instructions. That is my first point.

(more) - 6 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

My second point is this: From the time of the inception of the Information Centres in many countries, the Directors of those centres used their own discretion and forwarded some letters or communications from individuals or organizations which, in the judgement of the Directors, were worth consideration at Headquarters. According to the records maintained in the DPI, since the establishment of these Information Centres not more than ten communications had been received in many, many years. Such communications never dealt with breaches of human rights in host countries or any criticism or complaint regarding the functioning of the Governments concerned. So when the matter came up last May at the United Nations Information Centre in Moscow, this was the first case -- let me repeat, this was the first case •- in the history of United Nations Information Centres when an individual or a group of individuals had attempted to transmit complaints regarding breaches of human rights to

Headquarters. Soa a request for instructions to the Director was received by Headquarters. We considered this question very closely. ¥e asked ourselves: If United nations Headquarters were to instruct all Information Centres, which number about 50, to accept and transmit to Headquarters all complaints regarding breaches of human rights in the host countries, what would be the result? The result would be that it would generate a tremendous protest from all host Governments -- not one, but all. I cannot think of any Member State which would permit any of its citizens to use the United Nations Information Centres as a channel of complaint against the Government -•- not only with respect to breaches of human rights but with respect to other matters too. Let us suppose that an individual or a group of individuals wanted to criticize a member of the Government for corruption or debauchery or whatever, and then attempted'to transmit a piece of paper to Headquarters -•- since he had no other channels of communication.

(more) - 7 - Press Release SG/SM/120Q' 22 December 1969

Then, If Headquarters were to issue instructions to Information Centres to accept for transmission all such communications, I am sure the host Governments would ask the-United Nations to close down all Information Centres. That would "be the result. Another possibility is, even on the unlikely assumption that the host Governments do not make such s. move, United Nations Headquarters will be flooded with thousands of complaints from every Member State which hosts the Information Centres -- thousands of complaints every month. But, on the second point, whether an individual or group of individuals has not the right to bring to the attention of United Nations Headquarters regarding breaches of human rights, I am all for it. I want everybody, every individual, all groups of individuals or organizations to bring to the attention of the relevant organs of the United Mations cases of breaches of human rights, one of the greatest preoccupations of the United Nations-for many years. If there are breaches of human rights which contravene the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights, then all such breaches should be brought to the attention of the United Nations, by some means or another. But my whole point is that it is not the function of the United Nations Information Centres to serve as a medium of transmission of complaints against the Government of the host country. That is my whole point.

QUESTION; Sir, you said just now that you feel the Big Four will come to substantive agreement -on the Middle East situation. Does anything that you know about the recent initiatives in the Big Four or anything that you heard about the Arab summit meeting indicate this? Is your optimism based on anything definite that you heard recently?

(more) - 8 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

The SECPJiiTARY-GEREML? I am familiar with all the proposals and the substance of the discussions that have been going on among the Big Four meetings, and I have come to the conclusion that the Big Four genuinely vant to facilitate the work of Ambassador Jarring. Their primary purpose has baen and still is to facilitate Ambassador Jarring's work. They are very eager that the Secretary-General' s Special Representative should res-ams his activities promptly, and if I may make a conjecture, I have & fueling that before the end of January th-re will be sufficient basis for Aabayearlor Jarring to resume his activifci.es,

QUESTION; Mr. Secretary-General, it is possible for the Big Four, in their Big Four capacity, to do two things which would dampen the fighting in the Middle East. One of thoae is to embargo arms to all the parties; the second is to offer a guarantee to all parties on the boundaries they might arrive at. In the light of your recently expressed fear of a one-hundred years' war if the fighting continues, do you believe the Powers should take one or both such actions now?

Tha SECRETARY-GENERAL; I will be very glad to transmit the substance of your questions to the Big Four.

QUESTION; The 22 November resolution and the statements by the Big Four themselves continually emphasized up to now that the parties had to agree on their own terms. When formulations are put forward which change in effect some of the conditions of the resolution, or appear to modify them, is that not a departure from the original purpose of the Big Four? The resolution says nothing about the Big Four doing anything; it merely authorizes Ambassador Jarring to promote a peace based on principles approved by the entire membership of the United Nations. Are not the Big Four modifying and departing from and reducing and changing — tfee parties themselves have said distorting — the original proposal?

(more) Press Release No. SG/SM/1200 - 9 - 22 December 1969,

The SECRETARY-GENEPAL: I do not believe that the Big Four are deviating from the framework of the Security Council resolution of November Their whole purpose is to facilitate the work of Ambassador Jarring -within the framework of that resolution* As I have said in the pe.sts "' , the Security Council resolution can be given effect to only if the Big Four sre in agreement. That has been the fact for the last twenty-four years, jfou will recall that?since the inception of the United Nations, Chapter VII — that is, the Chapter pertaining to the action of the Security Council in situations involving threats to international peace and security — has never oesn invoked. Chapter VII has never been invoked. So, in ordsr to give effect to the resolutions of the Security Council, the essential element is that the permanent members of the Security Council must agree on the method of implementation. That is what they are engaged in. It is far from their intention,in my view, to deviate from the purposes of ths relevant Security Council resolution. They are performing their functions only within the frame-work of that resolution. i QUESTION; East-West tensions in Europe generally appear to be on the eve of easing, resulting from exchanges particularly between the Soviet Union, West Germany and East Germany. What are your reactions to that development? ;'

The SECRETARY-GENERALi It is a very encouraging development. Of course, you know my approach to all problems, you know my conception of the United Nations. The developments we have been witnessing in Europe in the past many months have been most encouraging. The reported detente, for instance, between East Germany and West Germany is a development in the right direction. Of course, the SALT talks in Helsinki are another milestone in the march towards an era of negotiations. As you all know, Europe is the centre of the political activities of the whole international community. Any sign of detente or understanding or rapprochement between East and West, particularly in Europe, must be welcomed. I am very much gratified at those developments. QUESTION; Mr. Secretary-General, could you comment on the situation in Viet-Nam, and what you now feel are the prospects for peace there? (more) - 10 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

The S5CR1CTARY-GMERA.L; I have "been saying for the last -three •nths or so that I am now more optimistic than "before regarding the •ospects for a just and peaceful settlement of the Vietnamese conflicta I base my optimism upon one premise or one expectations that the hances of the people cf Viet-Nam fashioning their own future are brighter now

nan ever beforefl I think it is worth recalling the proposals I made during the last •everal years — proposals vhieh were designed to create conditions for peace. I suggested a three-step activity: cessation of the bombing of Worth j.et~Wam, discussions "between all those who'are actually fighting, and "e-escalation of fighting by all sides. As you are all aware, the first two conditions have been fully mot, but I am not sure whether the third, condition —- le-escalation of the fighting by all sides — has been, fully met; although, of course, from time to time we get reports that the level of fighting has subsided. The question now is: "What arc the priorities for peace? Ceasa-fire? You know my views on that. In the peculiar situation prevailing in "outh Viet-Nam, where there arc no properly demarcated frontiers or boundaries, ind where some villages are occupied by Government forces in the day-tine Tjid by forces of the other side at night,, it. is impossible to supervise iny cease-fire arrangements. Then, what should be the priorities? Ejections? You know my views on 'hat subject also. In the very messy situation prevailing in South Viet-Wam ;oday, free and fair elections are out of the question. If anybody r.s thinking of conducting elections now or in the very near future, I would say that that idea is very unrealistic. In conducting elections in Viet-Nam, the jasic questions ares Who is going to organize those elections? Who is going to supervise them? 'Who is going to count the votes? Those are basic issues. You will recall that, even under the Geneva Agreements of 195*1-, when the situation in Viet-Nara was less, messy than it is now, they had to plan two years in advance regarding the conduct of elections. So, I do not believe that elections either should be a priority item in Viet-Nam,

(more) - 11 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 Decu,foer 19'o9

Than, what should be the priorities for peace? In my view, the emergence of a broad-based national Government in Saigon that has the confidence and allegiance of most factions in South Viet-Nam should be the number one priority. I am sure most of you must have read Mr, George Ball's article in yesterday's New York Times magazine. The thene of his article, by and large, confirmed what I had been saying regarding the Viet-Nam war for the last five years or so. Of course, his style is more literate and much more elegant than mine, and I wish he had said those things when he was serving as the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations. So my approach to the Viet-Nam problem is more or less on the same lines as that advocated by Mr. George Ball in his article published yesterday,, The first priority for peace should be the emergence of a broad-based national Government in South Viet-Nam which has the confidence and trust and allegiance of most, ii1 not all factions in South Viet-Nam, Of course, I cannot say that of any other Government, but, because of the peculiar situation of South Viet-Nam, and because of the very important repercussions generated by the Vietnamese war on the international scene, I believe that I am quite justified in coming out publicly with this priority item number one.

QUESTION; How would you assess the General Assembly session that has just ended? That assessment seems to be a little fuzzy in the minds of some people, and I should therefore be interested to get your own personal evaluation of it.

The SECRETARY-GENERAL; Different people will assess the results of the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly in different ways. Some will say that the session was not productive; others will say that it was a small-Poweis session; still others will say that, taking into account the international situation, it was a productive and positive session. In cy view, there are certain important features of the Efssslon that has just ended.

(more) - 12 - Press Release SG/SM/12CO 22 December 1969

First of all, it showed very clearly that the cold war is now coming to an end, The lack of acrimony,— or, in any case, the reduction of acriaonious debates -- on issues of var and peace and on issues of disarmament is an indication of the climate of the international scene which is reflected in these rooms. Both East and West — particularly the leaders of the East and West — showed a genuine desire to start a new era of negotiations. It is reflected in the general debate, both on items of disarmament and on other items — even on items of colonialism or j^artheid, or items which gave birth to the very important Declaration on Social Development that has given new dimensions to social justice. I think there are signs of a real desire on the part of both East and West to come to soirs sort of a detente. I think that is the first feature of the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly, The next feature, in my view, is the reflection of the international climate on the General Assembly itself. You must have noticed the ruvolt of the young and the poor in many parts of the world against the old and the rich — in other words, against the Establishment. That was in many ways reflected in this past session of the General Assembly. There are signs — more than signs — that the snail Powers, the poorer countries, did not necessarily go along with the super-Powers in measures and items involving human survival and human progress. That is my assessment. Then, thirdly, another feature of the past session was the genuine co-operation between the North and the South in economic matters — in matters relating to the economic and social development of peoples. Even on matters of apartheid, I think the debates were of a very high calibre. In this connexion, I must pay a very warm tribute to the Organization of African Unity for having presented the historic Lusaka Manifesto to the General Assembly, through the President of the Organization of African Unity, President Ahidjo of the Cameroon, personally. That document, in my view, is a very moderate, mature and far-reaching one which should be studied by all Governments. So, from that point of view, my conclusion is that the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly was a positive one.

(more) - 13 - Press Release SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary-General, one big Power has questioned the value and the meaning of scnia resolutions which have "been adopted by the Assembly this year, and mainly the resolution on the sea-bed and the one declaring the use of tear gas and defoliants contrary to international law. If these resolutions are not complied with by one "big Fewer, what could be the result regarding rospeet for United Nations decisions? And also, specifically, do you expect the resolution on chemical warfare to be respected now?

The GS^ETARY-Gjr-EKAL; First of all, we have to make a distinction between the General Assembly resolutions and Security Council resolutions. As you are aware, the General Assembly resolutions, unlike some of the Security Council resolutions, are lacking in a mandatory character. They are expressions of the views of Governments. The General Assembly has been and still is a very important,indeed., a very essential forum for all Governments, and the resolutions a,re primarily in the natfcure of recommendations, and, of course, Governments from time to time express their reservations regarding a particular resolution or resolutions. This is not a new phenomenon. Foi* there are many Member States, of course, which have in the past disregarded the resolutions of the General Assembly and even of the Security Council. This is the situation we are in, But I do not want to comment specifically on the question posed, since it is of a substantive nature and many Member States, both big and small, have reservations on many of the resolutions adopted, not only at this session but at previous sessions also. This is the prerogative of all sovereign Governments.

Q^STION: Mr. Secretary-General, The General Assembly adopted two resolutions on chemical and bacteriological weapons. What is your evaluation particularly of those resolutions, and do you think that they are a basis for later agreement on this very important question?

(more) Press Release-SG/SM/1200 22 December 1969

The SECBETARY-GEMEPAL; Regarding this question of chemical and bacteriological (biological) weapons, I made my views very clear in my preface to the report of the fourteen experts whom I appointed earlier this year in response to the General Assembly's resolution of the previous year. So my views on this question are well known. I want to take this opportunity of expressing my appreciation to the Member States for having taken up that portion of my report en this subject and having come out with a very important resolution. I e.ra hopeful that all Member States, large and snail, will give effect to this resolution sooner or later.

QUESTION; Mr. Secretary-General, in a few days we enter a new year and, as you just said, a very important net*1 decade. I presume ths.t you have tried to look into your own crystal ball in trying to discern the shape of the future. I wonder if you could share some of your thoughts with us?

The SECRETARY-GEN£PAL: In the light of the improved political climate, particularly in Europe, particularly involving East and West, I am now hopeful about the prospects of peace in 1970- I am hopeful not only in the political field, but also in the economic, social and humanitarian fields, as they are reflected in the debates and discussions that have been going on for thirteen weeks in the General Assembly.

Mr. .LITTLEJQKKS (President of UWCA): Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General, and particularly on that happy note may I wish you again a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, with peace, justice and progress, es you optimistically expect world peace.

The SEC^ETARY^GSjjERAL: Thank you very much, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The Press Conference ross at 11.15 a.m.

# UNITED NATIONS Press Cervices Office of Public Information United Nations, U.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA. -- HOT AW OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3593 16 February 1970

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following statement was made by a United Nations spokesman today:

In view of the increasingly serious deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, Ambassador Jarring, at the Secretary-General's invitation, will come to Geneva to confer vith him en UednescLay, 18 February. They will discuss the situation in general and the roles of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative in seeking to cope with it, in particular.

•x- **# UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA --- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/2Q1 19 February 1970

SECRETARY -GENERAL, U TKANg? EEAVES GENEVA FOR BURMA

(The following was received from the United Nations Information Service, Geneva.}

The Secretary-General, U Thant, left Geneva at 1105 hours (local time) today for Frankfurt on his way to Burma, foll.Qwi.iag a working dinner on Wednesday night with Gunnar Jarring, Special Representative of the Secretary- General to the Middle East, and continued talks over breakfast this morning. U Thant was seen off at the airport by the following: Vittorio winspeare Guicciardi, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva; Jean Humbert, Permanent Observer of Switzerland to the United Nations; Janos Stanovnik, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE); Georges Palthey, Deputy Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva; and M. Vieux, Chief of Protocol of the Canton of Geneva. Before departing from Geneva airport, the Secretary-General made the following statement to the Press: "I had a comprehensive and useful discussion with Ambassador Jarring last evening and again today on the situation in the Middle East, in the context of the Security Council resolution of 22 November 1967. We have come to the conclusion that for the moment there is no sufficient basis for Ambassador Jarring to reactivate his mission. We will continue to maintain our contact and communication as in the past, and as soon as there is a sufficient basis for the resumption of his mission Ambassador Jarring will undertake it." The following questions and answers then ensued: Question; "Sir, you said ^8 hours ago that you regard the Middle East situation as heating up dangerously. Do you regard that remark as consistent with the apparent lack of any action?" The Secretary-General; "The actual situation in the Middle East is a primary concern of the Security Council and, for that matter, the primary

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/T/291 19 February 1970 concern of the permanent members of the Security Council, It is not directly related to Ambassador Jarring's function which, essentially, can be summarized in a few words, that is, to promote agreement. The actual military situation is the primary concern of the Security Council, not Ambassador Jarring!s." Question; "Did you specifically ask him to resume his mission?" The Secretary-General; "Wo. I do not want to divulge the substance of our talks. I had a very comprehensive and useful exchange of views yesterday, as well as this morning, and, as I have said a moment ago, we have come to the conclusion that, for the moment at least, there is not a sufficient basis for the Secretary-General's Special Representative to reactivate his mission." Question; "Do you agree with President Nixon's statement that there is not much the big Powers can do for the moment in the Middle East?" The Secretary-General; "I am afraid I have not studied President Nixon's statement." Question; "Sir, is Ambassador Jarring going back to Moscow?" The Secretary-General: "Yes, he is going back to Moscow." Question; "Are you going directly to Burma or will you stop somewhere?" The Secretary-General; "I am going directly to Burma. Thank you." UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N,Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/293 20 February 1970

SECRETARY-GENERAL HALTS BRIEFLY IN LEBANONOW WAY TO BURMA

(The following was received from the United Nations Information Centre, Lebanon.)

The Secretary-General, U Thant, halted briefly at Lebanon airport on 19 February for ^5 minutes, while on his way to Burma, and made a statement to the Press. In response to a question by a representative of the official Lebanese news agency concerning the Middle East situation, Ambassador Jarring's mission and the four Powers meeting in New York, the Secretary-General referred to the statement made by him in New York on Tuesday, 1J February, at his Press Conference, and added: "I still believe that a political arliututii.0^. for the Middle East situation is possible. The Security Council still has an important role to play in working for a just and peaceful settlement for the Middle East. The permanent members of the Security Council should do their utmost to reach a formula which would help Ambassador Jarring to resume his mission. 'T had a comprehensive and useful discussion with Ambassador Jarring yesterday and today (l8 and 19 February) in Geneva on the situation in the Middle East, and we have come to the conclusion that, for the moment, there is ro sufficient 'b~,si:j for Ambassador Jarring to resume his mission. We still continue to maintain our contacts and communications as in the past and, as soon as he will have a sufficient basis, Ambassador Jarring will resume his task. "As you know, the big four Powers are still meeti?ig in New York and he is expecting to receive a report tcrcnrrow (Friday)." The Secretary-General concluded his statement by saying that he still believed in a. political solution. He extended his best wishes to the Government and people of Lebanon.

^fr vC" "JCTv Vv UNITED NATIONS Press Service* Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF IKFOBMATIOK MEDIA — WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 5596 7 March 1970

MOTE TO CQBBSSPOHDEMTS

The following statement was made by a United Nations spokesman today:

The Secretary-General announces that Ambassador Gunnar V. Jarring, his Special Representative to the Middle East, will be returning to his Headquarters at the United Nations on Tuesday, 10 March. He is returning at the request of the Secretary-General. While at Headquarters, Ambassador Jarring will resume his consultations with the Secretary-General, the representatives of the parties and others concerned, as on previous occasions. The length of hie stay here is undetermined at this point and will depend upon circumstances. Any further activities in connexion with his mission will be decided by Ambassador Jarring in the light of his consultations here.

# *#* * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3599 26 March 1970

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The folloving announcement was made by a United Nations spokesman today:

The Secretary-General announces that his Special Representative to the Middle East, Ambassador Gunnar V, Jarring, will be departing United Nations Headquarters on Thursday, 26 March, to return to Moscow. The Secretary- General and Ambassador Jarring, in the course of a discussion on Wednesday, 25 March, decided that the consultations for which Ambassador Jarring came to Headquarters a fortnight ago had gone as far as possible at this time, thus enabling Ambassador Jarring to rejoin his family in Moscow for the Easter period. Ambassador Jarring has advised the Secretary-General that the consultations which he has had during his current visit have been useful. It is the intention of Ambassador Jarring to return to United Nations Headquarters to undertake further activities in pursuance of his mandate under Security Council resolution 2^2 within a few weeks, or sooner, if developments should warrant it. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOE USE OP IWFOEMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL HECOED)

Note No. 3602 23 May 1970

NOTE TO CO-RESPONDENTS

The following is a statement made by a United Nations spokesman today on behalf of the Secretary-General, U Thant:

Friday 22 Kay has provided an especially ominous warning as to what the future may hold if decisive steps toward ending the Middle East conflict are not soon taken. As so often in warfare, it is innocent civilians who suffer and lose most. This was the case in the deplorable attack yesterday morning by Arab irregulars, presumably Palestinian refugees, on an Israeli school bus along the Israeli-Lebanese border with substantial casualties, killed and wounded, of Israeli schoolchildren and teachers. The same can be said about the heavy casualties among Lebanese civilians as a result of the apparently retaliatory Israeli artillery bombardments of Lebanese villages. Now the hostility and violence engendered by the Middle East conflict has extended to New York City by the brutal assaults yesterday upon the three Arab representatives of Arab organizations in their offices. On learning of these latter incidents the Secretary-General immediately approached the United States Mission to the United Nations and has been assured by that Mission that prompt measures have been taken to ensure the protection of Arab representatives and their offices in their persons and property against any repetition of such lawless acts. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/325 7 July 1970

SECRETARY-GENERAL. U THANT. HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE IN GENEVA

(The folloving was received from a United Nations Information Officer accompanying the Secretary-General.)

Following are highlights from a press conference held by the Secretary- General, U Thant, in Geneva at 11U5 hours on Tuesday, 7 July:

The Secretary-general, U Thant, was greeted by Janos Lengyel, President of the Correspondents Association, who asked the first question as to whether the Secretary-General had given up hope regarding peace in the Middle East. Replying, the Secretary-General said that he had not given up hope. During his recent stay in Moscow, the Soviet leaders had briefed him on their latest proposal, which was submitted to the Big Four meeting in New York* The United States Government had also briefed him on the latest American proposal. He had also discussed the Middle East situation with Ambassador Jarring while in Moscow. Back in New York, the Secretary-General had got in touch with the Permanent Representatives of the Big Fourj hence his delay in arriving in Geneva. Continuing, the Secretary-General added: "If I am to assess the Soviet Union proposals, I feel they have interesting and concrete elements regarding a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. I am still hopeful that a political and peaceful settlement is possible." Asked whether he felt that the Soviet plan was more interesting than the United States plan, he stated that he was not giving any opinion or any comparison. Asked whether the question of the Soviet missiles in Egypt, as reported by the Press was discussed while he was in Moscow, the Secretary-General replied that this question was not brought up and he was not officially informed about this matter. (more) f 2 - Press Release SG/T/325 7 July 1970

Regarding the problem of arms in the Middle East, he said that a. distinction should be made between offensive and defensive weapons. Asked about the withdrawal of UNEF from the Middle East and the possibility of stationing a United Nations Force there, the Secretary-General said that there was still some misunderstanding regarding the first point, and he referred to a chronological order of all the steps taken in 1967 regarding this matter, as stated in his reports to the General Assembly and the Security Council. On the second point, he believed that action by the Security Council and not the General Assembly would be essential in sending a United Nations Force to the area to maintain peace there. Asked about the possibility of the United Kingdom resuming arms shipments to South Africa, in view of United Nations resolutions, and also on the activities of the Soviet Union pilots in Egypt, the Secretary-General said he had no comment to the first point as it was a hypothetical question and since he had no official information. On the second point, he said that it is difficult to make any comment, since he had no official information on this matter. Asked about reactivation of the Jarring mission and the functions of United Nations observers in the Suez Canal sector, the Secretary-General said that, since his arrival in Geneva, he had contacted Ambassador Jarring by telephone and they both agreed for the moment that there was no basis for reactivation of Ambassador JarringTs mission. The Big Four will be meeting again in New York on 15 July and if there were to be a basis then Ambassador Jarring would be glad to reactivate his mission. United Nations observers were stationed on the basis of Security Council resolutions and the Secretary-General was not competent to revise their functions. Asked about the appointment of Ambassador Bruce to the Paris talks and his assessment of the war in Viet-Nam, the Secretary-General said he believed that President Nixonts decision to send Mr, Bruce to Paris was a very positive step. On the Viet-Nam war, which had already become an Indo-China war, the Secretary-General reiterated his views as stated in his statement of May and his remarks on 11 June at an UNCA luncheon. (more) - 3 - Press Release SG/T/325 T July 19TO

Asked whether his office had direct contact with Peking, the Secretary- General said he had no direct contact with Peking, "but that from time to time he used third parties in transmitting certain important messages. He continued that, while the question of the representation of China was still pending, he felt that some arrangement should be devised to have the People's Republic of China involved in important problems regarding war and peace. Asked again whether he regarded the presence of SAM missiles in Egypt as self-defense and at what stage a United Nations Force should go to the Middle East, the Secretary-General said he had never stated that this was a good thing. From the United Nations point of view, a distinction between purely offensive and purely defensive weapons should be made. On the second point, he said that it would be desirable for the Security Council to take the necessary action to station a United Nations Force which could not be withdrawn without the Council's decicion. Asked whether Ambassador Jarring had a hand in drafting the Soviet Union proposals, the Secretary-General said that Mr. Jarring had no hand in that. Asked about the possibility of his accepting a third term, the Secretary-General said that his feelings on this were the same as they were in 1966 and that it was not the time nor the occasion to make such a declaration. He added: "Speaking personally and purely from selfish reasons, I would be happier if I could leave before the end of my current term."

* UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — EOT m OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/A/93 PAL/1170 21 July 1970

LT. GENERAL ODD BULL LEAVES UNTSO

The Secretary-General announces that Lt. General Odd Bull of Norway, for personal reasons and at his own request, will be leaving his post as Chief of Staff of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization in Palestine (UETTSO) when his present tour of duty expires on 1 August 1970- General Bull has served as Chief of Staff of UNTSO since 20 May 1963. The Secretary-General takes this opportunity to pay tribute to the distinguished service which General Bull has rendered to the United Nations. During the seven years that he has been Chief of Staff, UNTSO has undergone a number of serious crises, and, especially since the war of June 19^7, has encountered great difficulties. The United Nations has been fortunate to have as Chief of Staff in Jerusalem during these years an experienced officer of high rank. In spite of the severe emotion, tension and controversy characterizing the situation in the Middle East, General Bull has been able to maintain excellent relations with all of the Governments concerned. He has fulfilled the duties of Chief of Staff with skill and devotion. General Bull will be succeeded as Chief of Staff by Major-General E.P.H. Siilasvuo of Finland who has served with UNTSO since 15 October 1967, deputizing for General Bull whenever he was absent and, in the past three months, serving as Acting Chief of Staff.

•x- UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Wations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1312 MEM/60 31 July 1970

AMBASSADOR JARRING RETURNIKG TO NEW YORK

The Secretary-General announces that Ambassador Gunnar Jarring, his Special Representative to the Middle Bast, will be returning to New York shortly for new consultations. The Secretary-General telephoned Ambassador Jarring at noon on Thursday, 30 July, at his home in Viken, Sweden, where he has been on home leave from his Swedish Government post as Ambassador to the USSR. During this conversation, it was agreed that it would be useful for Ambassador Jarring to come to his New York headquarters, especially at this time, for consultations with the Secretary-General and others on the current situation and on possible next steps, in the light of developments. Ambassador Jarring will be arriving in New York on the evening of Sunday, 2 August, on flight SK 919, arriving at 19!-t-0 hours (local time). The length of Ambassador JarringTs stay in New York and his course of action in the immediate future will be determined during his talks here.

* UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3615 3 August 1970

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following statement was made oy a United Nations spokesman today following the Secretary-General's meeting this afternoon with the United States Secretary of State, William Rogers:

The Secretary-General had a very useful and constructive meeting in a very friendly atmosphere. All aspscts of the United States proposal on the Middle East, including replies received by the United States Govenanent, were discussed. The Secretary-General wishes fully to endorse Mr. Rogers' emphasis on the need for quiet diplomacy.

# #•!£* # UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1J15 MEM/61 k August 1970

ST/iTEMSHT.gi. THE SECRETARY-GEHERAL, U THANT

In the light of the information, written and oral, available to me thus far, and particularly aftei the very helpful talk yesterday with Secretary of State Rogers, I am encouraged by recent developments in the quest for peace in the Middle EasJ. There is nov, I feel, a real chance to make important advances. Who knoT*s w.^en, or even if, there will be another chance? Over-optimism, however, should be avoided. In such situations, there is often a tendency for some tc c;-pect too much, too soon. Ambassador Jarring is here, engaging in intensive consultations as envisaged in the announcement concerning him made last Friday. He is ret»dy to undertake all that may be required of him under his mandate. The United Nations is prepared to provide any other assistance whenever called upon. There will be, of course, msny questions and much speculation about what may lie ahead. Many of the questions arc either unanswerable at this stage or prudence, in the interest of progress, would dictate that they remain unanswered for the time being. Speculation about delicate and sensitive issues knows no bounds and often serves to complicate and confuse matters. The United Nations is most fortunate to have the services at this time of Ambassador- Jarring, a vise and veteran diplomat who is a master of that art of quiet diplomacy most likejy to be productive in the Middle East today. It is my intention, hopefully very soon, to inform the Members of the Security Council of current efforts and developments by means of a report to the Council .

#*•* # UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release GA/1+232 SG/SM/1338 2k September 1970

JOINT APPEAL BY ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO JORDAN

Following is the text of a joint appeal made today by the President of the General Assembly, Edvard Hambro (Norway), and the Secretary-General, U Thant, at Headquarters to all members of the United Nations, the specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private individuals,to provide humanitarian aid to Jordan:

The President of the General Assembly and the Secretary-General have been profoundly distressed at the bloodshed and suffering that have afflicted Jordan in the present tragic situation. They are aware of the many efforts being made to restore peace, and naturally hope that they will be successful. They feel that the United Nations and its family of agencies and non- governmental organizations will wish to offer immediately all possible assistance that may be needed to prevent further loss of lives and to alleviate the afflictions and the anguish that have become the sudden lot of so many thousands of human beings. They join in appealing to all members of the United Nations and of the specialized agencies, to non-governmental organisations, as well as to private individuals, to provide the needed humanitarian aid. The United Nations and the specialized agencies have always been ready to come to the assistance of those stricken by harsh events, and will, beyond doubt, add another chapter to this generous record. UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N*Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/13U2 28 September 1970

TEXT OF MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THANT, REGARDING DEATH OF PRESIDENT NASSER OF UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC

Following is the text of a cable sent today by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Republic., Mahmoud Riad, expressing condolences on the death of President Gamal Abdel Nasser:

"I have learned with deep shock of the untimely death of President Gamal Abdel Nasser and I hasten to convey to the Government and people of the United Arab Republic my great sorrow at the incalculable loss which they have sustained. As the leader of the Egyptian people and as an outstanding figure in the Middle East and in the world, President Nasser played an historic part in the events of the last two decades in his area. Please convey to Mrs. Nasser and the family my deep sympathy and condolences."

* ### * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 2 October 1970

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following statement was made by a United Nations spokesman today:

The Secretary-General armounses that on the basis of consultation between himself and his Special Representative to the Middle East, Ambassador Gunnar Jarring, it has been agreed that Ambassador Jarring will return to Moscow for a limited period to attend to Ms duties as Swedish Ambassador to the USSR. He intends to leave New York vary shortly. The basis for this decision is that in the present circumstances and for the time being Ambassador Jarring has done all that he can do toward fulfilment of his mission and therefore there is no pressing reason for him to be in New York at this time. It is expected that Ambassador Jarring will return to United Nations Headquarters around the middle of October. He will, of course, be available to come back to New York within 2.h hours at any time that developments may warrant.

•*## UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y, (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1358 MEM/61)- 23 October 19?0

STATEMENT BY SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THAMT, ON 23 OCTOBER

Following the dinner given by the Secretary-General, U Thant, in honour of the Foreign Ministers of France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the following statement was issued:

The four Foreign Ministers had a useful exchange of views with the Secretary-General and Ambassador Jarring on the situation in the Middle East. They agreed to exert their utmost efforts (l) to enable Ambassador Jarring to resume his mission at the earliest possible date; (2) to search'for possibilities through the agreement of the parties directly concerned to extend the observance of the cease-fire for a period to be determined; and (5) to find a peaceful solution on the basis of resolution 2k2 of the Security Council. The four Powers would continue their consultations, and their Permanent Representatives in New York will meet again on 28 October.

* •*#•# * UNITED NATIONS Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — WOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1J57 UND/721 24 October 1970

TEXT OF ADDRESS, _BY SECRETARY-GENERAL, U THAMT. AT UNITED NATIONS DAY CONCERT. 2k J3CTOBER

On this memorable occasion when we celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, it gives me particular pleasure to present what will, I atn sure, be a memorable concert. Since 1954 it has been our tradition to present a concert on United Nations Day. I believe this is an excellent tradition, not only because it takes us out of our hum-drum world of political debate and controversy, but also because music is itself a unifying force speaking a universal language. I said a moment ago that today we are presenting a memorable concert. The occasion is a special one not only because it is our twenty-fifth anniversary, but also because we are presenting for the first time a new work for chorus and orchestra specially commissioned for the occasion, and composed by the distinguished Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. In the second half of the programme, you will hear the Ninth Symphony of Beethoven, which has been performed on so many previous occasions on United Nations Day. Of the Ninth Symphony,, as the programme notes recall, my distinguished predecessor Mr. Hammarskjold said: "It is an enormous confession of faith in the victorious human spirit and in human brotherhood..." I particularly appreciate the reference made by Mr. Hammarskjold to human brotherhood because it is a fact of the modern world which all of us have to recognize. If we regard every human being as our brother, we could then really make significant progress in regard to disarmament, since there would be no need for us to bear arms against our own brothers. We could then reverse the trend towards the escalation of the nuclear arms race, reduce the enormous cost of the

(more) - 2 - Press Release SG/SM/1357 UND/721 24 October 1970 modern super-sophisticated weapons, and at the same time make some progress towards some of our great goals in regard to general and complete disarmament. The resources thus released could be made available for the promotion of the purposes of the Second United Nations Development Decade in regard to which ve adopted by acclamation an International Development Strategy only this morning. This represents a new and important phase of global co-operation, new because it involves the first real effort towards the planning on a world- wide basis of our joint efforts for international development, and important because the strategy gives a more precise and better articulated dimension to the commitment of the international community for the development of the developing countries. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation for the fact that the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, under its brilliant conductor Zubin Mehta, has found it possible to transport itself across the continental United States to provide us with a musical feast this evening. The Rutgers University Choir, under the direction of Mr. Austin Walter, did not have to come quite so far, but our thanks go equally to .it. I also wish to extend my particular thanks and appreciation to the eminent artists whose voices will rise tonight in what I regard as a salute to the United Nations itself. I refer, of course, to Joanna Neal, soprano, and Robert Nagy, tenor, both of the United States, and Polish bass, Bernard Ladysz, who will perform in the new Penderecki work, and to the soloists in the Beethoven choral symphony, Martina Arroyo, American soprano; Irina Arkhipova, Soviet mezzo-soprano; Helge Brilioth, Swedish tenor; and Hans Sotin, West German bass. The concept of human brotherhood is also essential for solving the problems of the world today, affected as it is by so many dissensions, at a time when so many doubts and criticisms about the effectiveness of the World Organization are expressed from different quarters. I only wish to say that the ceremonies that took place this morning are abundant testimony to the simple fact to which so many distinguished speakers and the President of the Assembly himself have made repeated reference: the interests that unite us

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- 3 - Press Release SG/SM/1357 UHD/721 2^ October 1970

are far more significant than those that divide us. In our imperfect world of today, with so many Member States pursuing their divergent national, interests through every possible means., including the forum of the United Nations, it is understandable that there should be divisions among us; but let us also remember the truth of the old and simple saying "union is strength". Let us also recall that the Charter expects the Organization to serve as "a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of" our "common ends"* Let us therefore work towards a truly United Nations for the future, and co-operate in the performance of our common tasks for attaining our common endn in the same way in which, under the baton of its conductor,, you will see and hear the great orchestra assembled here tonight perform in harmony and unison. UNITED N A I' I 0 N S Press Services Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -- NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 7 January 1971

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following announcement was made by a United Nations spokesman today:

Ambassador Gunnar Jarring, the Special Representative of the Secretary- General to the Middle East, has accepted the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Israel, as conveyed in the latter's message of JO December 1970. It is Ambassador Jarring*s intention to arrive in Israel on the morning of Friday, 8 January, and to return to New York not later than the evening of Sunday, 10 January. Ambassador Jarring will be accompanied by Mr. Ian Berendsen, Principal Political Adviser of the United Nations Middle East Mission.

-ff~iv v\ nVi -it7T, UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SM/1^57 ND/19 21 April 1971

TEXT OF CABLE FROM SECR5TARY-GSMERAL. U THANT. TO PRIME MINISTER OF JORDAN ON RECENT FLOODS

Following is the text of a cable sent on 20 April by the Secretary-General, U Thant, to the Prime Minister of Jordan, Washid Tell, regarding the recent floods in Jordan:

"On behalf of United Nations I -wish to express my sincere sympathy to the Government of Jordan and those who have suffered in the recent floods caused by heavy rain. I am asking the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative to report to me on developments including ways in which United Nations family might be of assistance in this emergency."

# -*## * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR uss OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3666 23 April 1971

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS

As a result of coimnunications between the Secretary-General and his Special Representative to the Middle East, it has been arranged that Ambassador Jarring will confer with the Secretary-General in Geneva on 28 April. This meeting vill afford an opportunity for a fall exchange of information and vievs and therefore, for the time being, Ambassador Jarring •will not be returning to New York as he had planned to do. As usual, he will be available and able to return from Moscow on short notice.

y y ,y A A A UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/T/J^5/Corr,l 28 April 1971

IN_ GENEVA, FROM , BERNE

CORRECTION

In Press Release SG/T/3^5 of 2J April, the last paragraph should read: "On arrival at Geneva, U Thent also mat with Janos Langyel, President of the Geneva Association of Correspondents accredited to the United Nations, The Secretary-General confirmed that he would be meeting on Wednesday, 28_Agril, with Gunnar Jarring, his Special Representative to the Middle East."

* **# * UNITED NATIONS Press Section Office of Public Information United Nations, N.Y. (FOR USE OP INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Note No. 3668 20 May 1971

NOTE,TO CORRESPONDENTS

The following announcement was made by a United Nations spokesman today: Ambassador Jarring, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the Middle East, has been at Headquarters since 12 May for consultations with the Secretary-General and has taken advantage of his visit to have discussions with representatives of the parties and others. He has now- concluded these consultations and is returning, for the time being, to his post as Swedish Ambassador in Moscow. As usual, he will keep in touch with the Secretary-General and will be available on short notice.

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