MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28671, 22 August 1958, Page 11

MIDDLE EAST PEACE PLAN

Possible Post For Sir L. Munro (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, August ?1. The 10 Arab States delegations at United Nations headquarters were expected to table a resolution in the General Assembly today to bring a swift end to the Middle East crisis. Authoritative Western sources predicted it would receive almost unanimous endorsement by tomorrow, with the Secretary-General, Mr Dag Hammarskjold, probably flying to the troubled region next Tuesday for negotiations to give it effect. The draft, submitted to Arab governments for approval last night after a secret caucus of Arab delegates, would authorise Mr Hammarskjold to make arrangements to enable British and American troops to withdraw from Jordan and the Lebanon.

Usually reliable sources said what was envisaged was a Supreme United Nations 'presence” to supervise a “detente” among the Arab States and ensure that there was no interference in the internal affairs of Jordan and Lebanon by outside Powers. It was not immediately clear how this “presence” would take shape, but some sources said a High Commissioner might be appointed, and they suggested Sir Leslie Munro, of New Zealand, the Assembly President, or Dr. Ralph Bunche, as possible choices. Sir Leslie Munro, aged 57, would be available for the task on retirement from his posts of New Zealand Ambassador to the United States and resident representative to the United Nations on September 16, when the next regular Assembly session opens. Dr. Bunche, a grandson of a negro slave, is a top adviser to Mr Hammarskjold as United Nations Under-Secretary.

He won a Nobel Prize in 1949 for negotiating the Arab-Israeli armistice pacts. He has also been the United Nations official in charge o£ the United Nations Emergency Force. According to plans already under discussion, informants said that the “presence” would have as subordinates other top level appointees stationed in Amman and Beirut. Mr Hammarskjold was expected to_ go first to the Lebanese capital, where the United Nations already had an extensive operation, for consultations on the project.

A Reuter correspondent said that while the plan depended on the Arab Governments’ approval of the proposals of their delegations, it was taken for granted that this would be forthcoming today. Ths probable motion being circulated among delegations last night would in effect assure Lebanon and Jordan that there would be no interference in, their internal affairs, by reaffirming the Arab League and Bandung Conference principles of mutual respect and “peaceful co-existence.” Britain and the United States were believed certain to support the Arab proposals, which would achieve what both Powers had been aiming for throughout the emergency assembly—a Middle East “detente” or cessation of strained relations. The Soviet reaction was not immediately disclosed, but informants said they expected at least an abstention, and possibly affirmative votes.

WOMAN SWIMMER'S DEATH MELBOURNE. August 21 A former Dutch Olympic swim- z mer and world titleholder, Mrs Cornelius Ineke, better known in the swimming world as Ann Timmermanns, was killed in a motorcar accident here early today. Mrs Ineke, who was 35, represented Holland in the 1936 Olympic Games. She came to Australia in 1951.