Office of the Historian

309. Telegram From the Consulate General at Jerusalem to the Department of State1

Jerusalem,September 26, 1955—2 p.m.

98. Following are most recent developments El Auja area (Contel 97 to Department).2

September 24 chairman of EIMAC reported to UNTSO that Egyptians have increased personnel their positions along border of D/Z and that Israelis have likewise moved additional troops into the D/Z or area bordering it. Observers report two companies Egyptian troops established within D/Z west of Birein since about September 24. Also, Israeli half-tracks estimated at about fifty or more seen moving south from Beersheba same date. Chairman considers possibility outbreak hostilities now seriously increased.

Burns has today addressed communication to parties calling upon them to withdraw simultaneously their forces from D/Z and to implement all clauses of article roman eight of GAA and withdrawal, under supervision of UNTSO, to begin September 28 at 1000GMT and to be completed by 1600GMT same date.Burns asks that each party signify acceptance above terms by 1600GMT September 27.

Burns concurs with estimate of MAC chairman that El Auja situation obviously serious. However, as possible favorable symptom he stated Israelis are now allowing observers move freely about area, but have cautioned them of existence of mines without identifying places where mines located. When Burns saw Tekoah yesterday latter said GOI would make its acceptance Burns appeal conditional on Egyptian agreement not to interfere with a resurvey of the border by Israelis.Burns replied to effect that he thought Egyptians would agree to survey under UNTSO auspices, that the matter could be dealt with later, and that he could not at this time go into such questions as conditions proposed by Tekoah.Burns also told me that on August 24 Gohar assured him that the two Egyptian checkposts which encroached into the D/Z would be drawn back, but that has not been done.

Burns considers it probable that parties will take no action respecting his request for withdrawal D/Z unless tripartite powers [Page 516] urge them do so. He would therefore appreciate support of US Government.3

Cole
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 674.84A/9–2655. Confidential;Niact. Received at 9:50 p.m., September 16. Repeated niact to Cairo and Tel Aviv and priority to London, Paris,USUN, and Amman. Both the date and the time of receipt are evidently in error. See footnote 3 below.↩
  2. Dated September 24, it reported additional details regarding the El Auja incident reported in Document 292. (Ibid., 674.84A/9–2455)↩
  3. At 6:07 p.m., September 26, the Department, in response to telegram 98 from Jerusalem, informed the Embassy in Tel Aviv in telegram 218 and the Embassy in Cairo in telegram 594 that they were “authorized consult with your British and French colleagues and if they receive similar instructions from their Governments, separately to approach Egyptian and Israel FonOffs in support of efforts of Burns to obtain troop withdrawal from El Auja area in accordance with Article 8GAA.” (Ibid., 674.84A/9–2655)↩