CLEARANCE OF CANAL

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28386, 19 September 1957, Page 13

CLEARANCE OF CANAL

U.N. To Discuss Suez Costs

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 17.

Mr Hammarskjold, the United Nations secretary-general, today moved to bring the Suez Canal issue before the General Assembly opening this afternoon. He proposed that the agenda include an item on “clearance of the Suez Canal: Report of the SecretaryGeneral.”

The final cost of clearance has never been disclosed officially, but authoritative sources said that the figure was around 8,900,000 dollars. Some countries which advanced funds for the job have been in touch with the Secretary-General in recent months in the interest of getting their money back. Australia, which advanced 1.000,000 dollars, was one of these. How the cost of clearance will be shared is one of the problems facing the new assembly. One view is that there should be a surcharge, and another is that the so-called “aggressors.” Britain, Franck and Israel, should pay all the costs. Diplomats predicted some sharp debate on the issue.

Mr Hammarskjold also proposed inclusion of an item on the international emergency force (U.N.E.F.) in the agenda of the General Assembly which opened today. In a memorandum, he said he wanted to place before the body “further observations concerning the functioning and financing of the force.” The force, in which nine nations have contingents, is stationed in the Gaza Strip and the Gulf of Akaba area to keep the peace between Israel and Egypt after last year’s brief fighting.