TURKEY-SYRIA RORDER

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28413, 21 October 1957, Page 11

TURKEY-SYRIA RORDER

U.N. Force Urged For Area

(Rec. 11 p.m.) BRISTOL, October 19. The Leader of the Labour Opposition (Mr Hugh Gaitskell) said tonight there was an overwhelming case for sending United Nations observers immediately to the Turkish-Syrian frontier to investigate Soviet allegations. He said the United Nations observers should report quickly whether there was a real danger of hostilities breaking out. In this event, a small United Nations force should be sent from the Sinai area to the Turkish Syrian border to keep the peace. Mr Gaitskell, speaking at a political meeting, said the greatest danger in the Mid He East today was still the Arab-Israeli dispute, a subject on which Mr Khrushchevs recent letter to European Socialist parties was strangely sil'nt.

He said the first step in this dispute should be a guarantee by the Great Powers, including the United States and Russia, of existing frontiers between Israel and the neighbouring Arab States. In the Canadian House of Commons today, Mr Lester Pearson suggested that the deployment of United Nations Emergency Force troops along the Syrian-Turkish border should be considered at the United Nations. The former Canadian External Affairs Minister, and recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, now a member of the Liberal Opposition, asked the new Government to consider instructing the Canadian United Nations delegation to explore with other members of the United Nations the possibility of doing that in the interests of avoiding aggression. “Tense and Dangerous” He said the situation along the Syrian-Turkish border was «.ense and dangerous. It was Mr Pearson who first suggested the United Nations Emergency Force during the Suez crisis year. The Works Minister (Mr Howard Green». who is the Acting Prime Minister, agreed that the situation was serious and said the : Government would be “glad to give consideration to the suggestion.”

In New York, United Nations delegates, preoccupied by today’s inscription action on the Syrian complaint against Turkey, were hard pressed to comment immediately on Mr Pearson's suggestion. Sources close to some Arab delegations felt that certain Arab Stales might find merit in the suggestion But, like Western delegations, these sources felt that the suggestion would need care- I ful study.

When the airliner continued on course, the jet fired five bursts each of about 25 rounds. Stallworth said.

* The bursts came so close we flew through puffs of smoke in the air.

"When we were about 2500 feet over Aqaba, he got below' us and fired another blast up at us.” The jet then appeared to be running out of fuel and it headed back to Israel. Stallworth said. News of the Israeli attack caused concern among observers of the explosive situation in the Middle East.

One relieving feature of the crisis has been that Israel has not been drawn in. Should the Arab-Israeli dispute become enmeshed in the Syrian-Turkish tension, it is feared the crisis will become very grave. Diplomatic activity on the Syrian situation is centred today round the United Nations in New York, w'here delegations are preparing to debate Syrian charges of a Turkish threat to peace at a special plenary session.

Arab leaders have continued consultations in Beirut seeking a relaxation of the tension although hopes for an Arab “summit” meeting seem to have faded.

King Saud, of Saudi Arabia, and President Camille Chamoun of the Lebanon had hoped to convene such a meeting for tomorrow, but the chief of the Jordan Roval Cabinet. Bajat Talhouni. said last night that there would be no “summit” conference and King Hussein would not go to Beirut.

The President of Turkey, Celal Bayer, has assured King Saud that Turkey docs not contemplate attacking Syria. The President was replying to a message from the King about the situation on the Turkish-Syrian border. King Saud was understood to have told President Bayer thal Saudi Arabia would stand by Syria if she were attacked. Warning by Russia Moscow Radio wained Turkey last night that “it <s largely Turkey which will be consumed in the flames of a wo-'ici war if sur.n a conflagration breaks out due to her.” Th? Radio’s commentary, beamed to Turkey, said some Turkish circles, dazzled by sucn words as “unshakeable United States military might and N.A.T.O.’S strength.” prooaoiy thought it possible to do what they liked behind the shield of the United States and N.A.T.O. and even embark on a path leading to war.

The Radio said lliat if Turkey were opposed to war, she must put an end to hei intrigues against Syria and withdraw ner troops from the Syrian border. The Soviet Defence Minister. Marshal Zhukov, vno is visiting Albania, said at Tirana yesteraa* that there had been a deterioration in the international situation. the Soviet ne .vs agency lass reported today. Marshal Zhukov said: “The international situation has lately deteriorated again, especially in the Near and Middle East “The Soviet Unior. is supporting with determination the Syrian people in its struggle for its independence against all attempts by reactionary forces to impose upon it their conditions.”