It is fundamental to the continuation of the present state of relative tranquility in the area that both parties to the armistice agreement observe it in spirit and in letter. We sincerely hope that all concerned will take steps to insure that the agreement is not again violated. All parties should refrain from acts which might tend to increase tension. Two wrongs do not make a right. Any retaliatory violations of the armistice agreement by either party, particularly for violations that are not ill-intentioned, could unnecessarily lead to serious circumstances. Given the frank ill nature of peace in the Middle East, both Israel and Jordan have a particularly heavy responsibility for the exercise of patience and statesmanship. The United States Government hopes that the Council will indicate its support for the principle that the effectiveness of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization machinery should be maintained and supported. My Government has tabled the draft amendment before us 10 as an addition to the draft resolution cosponsored by Ceylon and the United Arab Republic." We are in accord with the position taken by the proposed draft resolution. Nevertheless we believe that this Council should take this opportunity to reaffirm its continuing concern that the General Armistice Agreements, so long as they shall govern the relationships between Israel and its Arab neighbors, must be complied with fully and in good faith. Over the years this Council has spent a considerable portion of its deliberations in endeavoring to assist the parties to the General Armistice Agreements in maintaining the tranquillity and stability in the Palestine area. The purpose of the United States amendment is to put again on record the fact that compliance with the General Armistice Agreements is not a unilateral obligation. Neither party to any of the General Armistice Agreements can expect that the other party will fully honor the provisions of that agreement if it itself is not prepared to show good faith in compliance. So long as the full General Armistice Agreements are in effect and still govern the relations of the parties, this Council must, we submit, take every appropriate opportunity to demonstrate its continued determination to insure their effectiveness. 293. UNITED NATIONS ENDORSEMENT OF THE DECISION OF THE JORDAN-ISRAEL MIXED ARMISTICE COMMISSION PROHIBITING THE STATIONING OF HEAVY MILITARY ARMAMENT IN THE ISRAEL SECTOR OF JERUSALEM: Resolution Adopted by the U.N. Security Council, April 11, 1961 12 The Security Council, Having considered the complaint submitted on 1 April 1961 by the 11 The resolution printed infra, minus operative par. 3. 12 U.N. doc. S/4788. This resolution, sponsored by the Representatives of Ceylon and the United Arab Republic, was adopted by a vote of 8 (including the U.S.) to 0, with 3 abstentions. Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (document S/4777),13 Noting the decision of the Jordan-Israel Mixed Armistice Commission on 20 March 1961 (document S/4776),14 1. Endorses the decision of the Mixed Armistice Commission of 20 March 1961; 2. Urges Israel to comply with this decision; 3. Requests the members of the Mixed Armistice Commission to cooperate so as to ensure that the General Armistice Agreement will be complied with. [NOTE: The anniversary parade, including the military armaments mentioned in the Jordanian complaint, was conducted by the Israel authorities in the Israel sector of Jerusalem, Apr. 20, 1961, without incident.] D. The United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) THE UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY FORCE-AUTHORIZATION OF EXPENSES FOR CALENDAR YEAR 1961: Resolution 1575 (XV), Adopted by the U.N. General Assembly, December 20, 19601 294. OPERATIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS EMERGENCY FORCE DURING THE PERIOD SEPTEMBER 14, 1960-JULY 31, 1961: Report of the U.N. Secretary-General (Hammarskjold), August 30, 1961 (Excerpts)2 Introduction This report covers the functioning of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) during the period since 13 September 1960, when the last report on this operation was submitted to the General Assembly by the Secretary-General,* in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 1125 (XI), paragraph 4. In the period under review there have been no changes of significance bearing upon the functioning of UNEF. The strong need for its presence continues undiminished and it continues to be definitely the case that the Force cannot effectively discharge its present responsibilities with any less strength than it now has. A. Organization and functioning of the Force I. EFFECTIVENESS AND ORGANIZATION 1. Throughout the period covered by this report, quiet has prevailed in the Constant vigilance by UNEF sentries and patrols, by day and by night, area. 13 Cited as an unnumbered title, ante, p. 683. 14 Cited as an unnumbered title, ante, p. 683. 1 American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 491–492. 2 U.N. doc. A/4857. 3 4 Excerpts in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 485–488. * Text ibid., 1957, p. 896. continues to be, as in previous years, an effective influence in restraining infiltration activities across the Armistice Demarcation Line and in the prevention of incidents along the Line. The relatively few incidents that have occurred have been of a very minor nature. It may be noted that agricultural and grazing activities now take place without molestation on both sides of the Line and up to the Line itself. In general, there has been no resort to force by UNEF, the mere presence of armed personnel on the spot being adequate to prevent incidents. On one occasion, however, when an armed infiltrator fired at a patrol in order to resist apprehension, United Nations troops had to take appropriate action in self-defence. Air violations, on the other hand, have been numerous. On two occasions, interception developed into air combat, during one of which a fighter plane was shot down. 2. UNEF was called upon to provide additional troops on an emergency basis for the United Nations operation in the Congo (ONUC). The equivalent of two companies was dispatched from the Swedish battalion immediately after it had arrived in the area on rotation on 16 April 1961. These two companies are still in the Congo and, since in their absence the Force has had to operate at reduced strength for six months, dispositions have had to be adjusted on a longterm basis. Six observation posts (OP's) formerly in the sector manned by the Swedish battalion, as well as guard duties at Port Said and Marina Camp, have been taken over by the Indian and the Yugoslav reconnaissance battalions, respectively. As a result of this adjustment all reserve platoons of the Indian and Swedish battalions are committed. This situation is quite unsatisfactory, and it is not considered advisable to continue such an arrangement much longer. Another instance of support to ONUC was the transfer of approximately 80,000 lb. of defence stores on short notice during the month of June 1961. Provision of these stores reduced UNEF's reserves below operational requirements and immediate action had to be taken to bring stocks back to the required level. 3. The basic organization, deployment and operational functions of the Force remain the same. The over-all strength of the Force as at 31 July 1961 reflects a decrease from last year's strength of approximately 200 men, which is accounted for by the removal of the two Swedish companies referred to above. It is assumed that this deficiency will be corrected during the next rotation. The countries providing contingents to the Force are the same, i.e., Brazil, Canada, Denmark, India. Norway, Sweden and Yugoslavia. 4. The numerical strength of each national contingent, as at 31 July 1961, is as follows: a Including personnel of the RCAF 115 ATU stationed at El Arish (94, all ranks). Including administrative troops (264, all ranks). Including personnel of the Norwegian-manned UNEF Hospital (123, all ranks). 4 The Swedish battalion, less two companies serving with ONUC. 5. The strength of 115 Air Transport Unit (RCAF) was slightly reduced during the year under review because of the introduction of the Caribou aircraft into UNEF service. The aircraft establishment now stands at three Caribou and two other aircraft and the personnel establishment is ninety-four all ranks, as against the ninety-nine of last year. 6. The introduction of the Caribou aircraft brought considerable change in the function of the unit. The greater payload of the Caribou (6,000 lb.) as compared with the Dakota (3,666 lb.) has meant a more efficient and economical vehicle for the operational tasks of the Force. It was found that the number Doc. 294 of road convoys to Sharm-el-Sheikh, which have always been extremely hard on vehicles, could be reduced because the troop rotation and re-supply could be undertaken just as economically by air. Secondly, as the short take-off and landing characteristics of the Caribou aircraft permit its use for reconnaissance flights, advantage was taken of this, and the Otter establishment was reduced from four aircraft to two. It is anticipated that the personnel establishment of the unit will eventually be reduced by another six to ten posts when the Caribou maintenance cycle is finally established. 7. The rotation policy followed by the various contributing nations remains the same as in previous years. The rotation of Canadian logistics personnel in small groups evenly spread out throughout the year, rather than by whole units once a year, has provided a highly desirable continuity and has had a marked effect on the efficiency of these base units. Canadian base units will continue to be rotated in this manner. 8. The rotation of Scandinavian units was carried out in September/October 1960, and again in April 1961, by chartered commercial aircraft. The next rotation of Scandinavian units will take place in October 1961. Half of the Brazilian contingent rotated during February 1961, and the other in August 1961. As on previous occasions, a Brazilian naval vessel was used to transport troops each way. It is anticipated that the Indian contingent will rotate at approximately the same time as heretofore, viz. in November, by a chartered ship. The Yugoslav contingent was also rotated twice during the year, in November/December 1960 and in May/June 1961. It will be rotated again in November/December 1961 and, as in the past, the rotation will be carried out by a ship chartered by Yugoslavia. The Canadian reconnaissance squadron will rotate as a unit in February 1962, by RCAF scheduled flights. 9. Since the inception of the Force, the various contingents still participating have been rotated as follows: four times; yearly rotation four times; yearly rotation seven times; yearly basis with half the contingent nine times; half-yearly rotation II. DEPLOYMENT AND DAILY ROUTINE 10. UNEF continues to be deployed along the western side of the Egypt-Israel Armistice Demarcation Line (ADL) and the International Frontier (IF), covering a distance of 273 kilometres. The Sinai coast from the northern end of the Gulf of Aqaba to the Straits of Tiran, a further distance of 187 kilometres, is kept under observation by UNEF air reconnaissance. As a consequence of the move of two Swedish companies to the Congo, the number of platoons available for patrolling and guard duties along the ADL, the IF and elsewhere, was reduced to sixty-four as against last year's total of seventy. The functions and responsi bilities, however, continued to be the same, and therefore the Indian and Yugoslav battalion establishments were temporarily changed and two additional platoons were improvised from administrative and support companies. Forty-five and one-half platoons are employed on the ADL and the IF, ten on guard and protective duties, and ten and one-half in reserve. It may be noted that, as a consequence of this readjustment, the Indian and Swedish battalions now have no reserves. The total number of officers and men employed on operational duties is thus approximately 2,700. The remainder consist of administrative and ancillary troops. The chart below shows the employment of platoons by contingent: • Reduced from total of twelve platoons as a result of transfer of two companies to ONUC. Improvised from administrative company. • Improvised one additional platoon. III. INCIDENTS 15. The type and number of incidents observed by UNEF troops between 1 August 1960 and 31 July 1961 are shown below. Incidents reported by Israel or United Arab Republic authorities which could not be investigated, and which thus were not confirmed, have not been included in this report. The total of 125 ground incidents shows a marked reduction from the 384 reported in the previous report. Air space violations also show a decrease, in the same period, from 319 to 242. Violations of territorial waters increased slightly, from 76 to 78. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Tota troops Crossing of ADL/IF involving thefts Crossing or attempted crossing of ADL/IF not in volving firing, 7 5 3 5 4 81 theft or kidnap ping.. 7 5 18 9 4 9 جراد TOTAL GROUND INCIDENTS: 125 |