Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-03-12
Move
BY Egyptians in
GAIA Doubted
OfficiuI indicates
Only Administrative
Units Will Be Sent

CAIRO. Egypt, Mar. IL (Pl.-
An Egyptian official said today
he understood Egypt plans to
send only administrative units
into the controversial GAIA Strip.
He said he doubts the Egyptian
government intends to move
military forces there in the i'm
mediate future.
The official made the comment
after Col. Salah Gohar, head Of
the Egyptian Palestine Depart
ment, conferred with DR.. Ralph
Bunche. U. N. undersecretary
general. on Egypt's appointment
of Gen. Hassan Abdel Latif as
military governor of the area.
1t was assumed DR.. Bunche
was seeking to learn if some
compromise might be worked
out involving the U. N. Emer-
gency Force. which moved into
the strip last week when Israeli
troops pulled out.
Gen. Abdel Latif was closeted
today with Gen. Abdel Hakim
Amer. Egyptian Army COM
mander.
Might Divide Duties
The Egyptian officials COM
ment suggested the Egyptians
may be ready to permit UNEF
units to continue policing FROM
tier areas. but insist on assuming
control of the civil administra-
ton of the strip.
Well-informed neutrals here
reported the Egyptians were in
no position now to send military
forces in any strength to GAIA.
They said the condition Of COM
munications across the Sinai
Desert to GAIA would put an
almost impossible burden on
the Egyptians if they attempted
to take over defense of the area
Almost no Egyptian combat
troops have been moved into
the Sinai Desert since Israeli
forces withdrew after their at
tack last fall. a neutral military
observer said. Practically all
Egyptian army installations
there were destroyed by the re-
treating Israelis. ne said. with
the result that only a small
token Egyptian administrative
unit has been sent in to re-
occupy the area.
U. N. officials sought to min
imize the Egyptian move to re-
establish administrative rights
in GAIA, But United States and
Israeli officials feared a serious
new crisis was blowing up.
There was talk in New York that
the U. N. Assembly might be
called back into session.
Bunche TO See Official
DR.. Bunche later was to see
Deputy Foreign Minister Abdel
Fattah Hassan. The deputy is
acting chief of the Foreign Of
flee in the absence of For >>l
Minister Mahmoud Fawzi. wns
is on his way home from the
U. N.
Meanwhile. Cairo press reports
indicated Egypt already is
tightening relations with the
GAIA Strip in other ways. The
reports said an Egyptian liaison
committee with the UNEF
would start functioning in GAIA
tomorrow under Brig. Gen
Amin Helmy.
The press said Egyptian Sup
ply Minister Kahal Ramzi Es-
tino authorized purchase of all
GAIA orange crop. an impor-
tant measure for Arab farmers
in the strip.
Israel Fears GAIA Base
Moshe Leshem, spokesman for
the israeli Foreign Ministry. sale
in Tel Aviv that Israel has
never asked for internationali-
cation of the GAIA Strip"
Our attitude" he asserted. "is
determined by the need to pre-
vent the Egyptians from turning
GAIA again into a base of aggres-
sion. For this purpose 1t is oul
view that UNEF must take ex-
elusive responsibility for admin
llstration of the GAIA Strip until
a peace settlement is reached
between Israel and Egypt or the
future OF the strip is otherwise
determined"
An Israeli official in Jerusalem
warned.that Egypt "alone will be
accountable for the conse
Soc GAIA paUa :.