THANT ATTEMPTS TO COOL WAR FEVER

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31381, 29 May 1967, Page 13

THANT ATTEMPTS TO COOL WAR FEVER

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

NEW YORK, May 28. The United Nations Secretary-General, U Thant, has issued an urgent appeal for a “breathing spell” to lower the war fever in the Middle East.

With both the Arab world and Israel prepared for war Radio Cairo called for a "Holy War” against Israel and a high-level Israeli source in Jerusalem said it was “almost impossible” that war could be avoided.

In the United Nations Egypt and Israel last night issued charge and counter-charge as the Security Council decided to meet tomorrow afternoon to consider U Thant’s report on the crisis.

Calling for a Security Council meeting, Egypt accused Israel of "aggression,” while Israel accused the Egyptians of making "a barefaced attempt to divert international attention from the tension in the Middle East.” At the same time Israel claimed that one of its Army halftrack vehicles was blown up by an Egyptian land mine near the Gaza strip frontier and a terrorist explosion rocked the United States Embassy in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

Council’s Rights In his new report to the Security Council, U Thant said that he feared an Egyp-tian-Israeli clash over shipping rights in the Gulf of Aqaba would plunge the Middle East into a general war.

He urged both sides to cool off while the Security Council sought a peaceful solution. He noted that the Security Council still had the right to order the use of force against any aggressor in the Middle East The Middle East was tense but generally calm as United Nations diplomats considered a council meeting on the situation. Washington Talks In Washington, the United States Secretary of State, Mr Dean Rusk, conferred with Arab and Soviet diplomats. He met Mr Yugi Tchemiakov, the Soviet Charge d’Affaires, at the request of the Soviet diplomat. It was believed Mr Tcherniakov delivered a message from the Kremlin, but there was no official report on the 10-minute visit An Israeli, communique on the Gaza strip mine explosion said seven or eight Israeli soldiers were believed wound-

ed. Israel said the incident occurred yesterday morning near the Israeli settlement of Keren-Shalom, opposite Rafa, on the southern Gaza strip border. It was the first incident reported by Israel since the strip area was evacuated by troops of the United Nations emergency force last week at Egypt’s insistence. Beirut Explosion

The explosion at the United States Embassy in Beirut rocked the seven-storey building yesterday morning, shattering about 50 windows but causing no injuries. Observers said the blast apparently was an extremist gesture against alleged United States support for Israel. In another development, China yesterday announced its support of the Arab world against "United States imperialism and Israel.” There have been reports that China has supplied weapons to Arab forces. Warning By Kuwait

Kuwait yesterday warned all nations supporting Israel in the present crisis that it would put an end to all interests of those nations in Kuwait.

Summoning the Ambassadors of the United States, Britain and Russia, and the

Charge d’Affaires of France, : the Foreign Minister, Sheik . Sabah Ala’ahmad, informed them of Kuwait's unequivocal i position in the Arab-Israeli i conflict and made it clear' that Kuwait “will halt all in- i terests of that nation support-;

ing Israeli aggression on the Arabs.” From Amman it is reported that reinforcements, including heavy artillery and tanks, arrived at the Jordanian frontier with Israel yesterday.