MEDIATION BY U.N.

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28445, 27 November 1957, Page 15

MEDIATION BY U.N.

i Arab-Israel Tension (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) : NEW YORK. November 25. The United Nations SecretaryGeneral (Mr Dag Hammarskjold) would visit the Middle East to try to ease tensions between Israel and Jordan, a United States spokesman said tonight. The spokesman said Mr Hammarskjold planned to leave on Friday for Amman and to return to New York by December 8. “Mr Hammarskjold hopes to take advantage of the opportunity for personal contacts with other governments in the area in j so far as time permits,” the spokesman said. Earlier today, informed sources at the United Nations said Mr ; Hammarskjold was concerned 'over recent developments along the border between Israel and Jordan. He was particularly concerned at an accusation made yesterday by the Jordanian Foreign Minister. Mr Sami Rifai. that Colonel Byron Leary, the United Nations truce chief, was biased in favour of Israel. Tonight’s statement said that the Jordanian Government had indicated that it would welcome a personal exchange of views with the Secretary-General very soon on pending questions. Mr Hammarskjold had sent word to Mr Rifai that he could leave New York on Friday. An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said the situation in Mount Scopus was causing some alarm. The 120 men manning a university compound and a hospital there were already short of some perishable goods. British. French and American diplomats in Tel Aviv are maintaining contacts with the Israeli Foreign Ministry in an attempt to solve the deadlock, the spokesman said.