U.N. Mediator May Be Sent To Middle East

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31512, 28 October 1967, Page 13

U.N. Mediator May Be Sent To Middle East

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

NEW YORK, October 27.

Diplomatic manoeuvres to find a Middle East peace formula moved into a critical stage today, with delegates agreed in principle that a United Nations mediator should be sent to the area.

The 10 elected members of the Security Council arranged a private meeting to discuss ideas and formulas which have been circulating among delegates for the last few days. The Danish Foreign Minister, Mr Hans Tabor, was playing an active role in the backstage talks and India has also suggested some ideas in an attempt to reach a compromise. Everyone agrees that the council should send a special representative of the Secret-ary-General, U Thant, to the Middle East However, there is still some disagreement how the intermediary should work.

The Arab delegations want Israel to withdraw to the positions held before the outbreak of fighting in June before any other moves.

Israel wants guaranteed security achieved through direct negotiations with the Arabs. All the diplomatic probings

of the last few weeks have been designed to see if either side can be persuaded to modify its position. Delegates have insisted all along that the Big Powers must reach agreement before a council session can serve any useful purpose. Recent incidents led the council to interrupt its search for a long-term solution and adopt a resolution on Wednesday night calling for strict observance of the cease-fire.