UNITED NATIONS, N.Y., June 16, 1981—(AP)—In one ofthe most impressive ceremonies ever held in the United Nations building,the world celebrated today the 25th anniversary of the discovery of the"Golden Judge."

General Terence P. O'Reilly, USA (Retired), the man responsible for thediscovery, was the principal guest of honor. Obviously moved by theacclaim from virtually every member nation, Gen. O'Reilly made a briefspeech recapturing for a moment the accidental circumstances of 25 yearsago that so drastically reduced world tensions....

It was stifling hot in Jerusalem in the afternoon of June 16, 1956, andMajor General Terence Patrick O'Reilly, United States Army, was rathermore bored than usual. His Army career had gone well—two stars alreadyat forty-five—until the mysterious workings of the Pentagon had givenhim perhaps the most frustrating posting a soldier could have.

He was chairman of the mixed United Nations armistice commission tryingto keep the uneasy peace between Israel and her Arab neighbors. Formonths he had presided over unending investigations of border incidents,some petty, some not so petty. He had signed reports reprimanding andrecommending and approving, but nothing ever came of them, and he nolonger expected anything ever would.

Today's hearing was different, and not strictly in his field. Butbecause he was an engineer, and because both Arabs and Israelis trustedhim, he had agreed to listen to their opposing arguments on using thewaters of the River Jordan.

Too many years ago, the United States had offered to provide most of thefunds for a "little TVA" on the river, benefitting both Israel andJordan alike. At first, both had refused outright to have anything to dowith the other. But over the years, skillful negotiating by EricJohnston, the American President's personal envoy, had brought Israeland Jordan closer and closer together—until now they agreed on thedisposal of ninety per cent of the water.

But farther than this they would not go. For months, years, they balkedon the remaining ten per cent, and the dams remained only blueprints.

Terence O'Reilly was sick unto death of the arguments, and thoughteveryone else was, too. He had heard them over and over; he knew them byheart. He knew they were evenly balanced, with justice on both sides. Heknew both nations longed for a settlement, but he knew neither wouldback down, for reasons of "face." Worst of all, he knew that anydecision of his was meaningless. It was purely advisory, and he knew alltoo well what "advisory" opinions counted for out here.

Yet he tried to look interested as the delegate from Jordan wearilyproduced an argument that every man in the conference room could reciteword for word.

In a brief lull, General O'Reilly groaned: "Why don't they toss a coinfor it?"

It was not as sotto voce as he meant.

The Arab delegate stared at him. "I beg your pardon!"

Flushing, General O'Reilly apologized, but the Arab was already talkingexcitedly to his fellow delegates. Puzzled, O'Reilly heard a confusedbabble of Arabic, then sudden silence.

The Arab delegate had a glint in his eye as he asked for the floor.

"In the name of my country," he said proudly, "we agree!"...