Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WED, APRIL 30, 1947 ALL EYES ON PALESTINE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 22, 30 April 1947, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WED, APRIL 30, 1947 ALL EYES ON PALESTINE

IF ever the danger signals were up as the prelude to another international upheaval, they are in Palestine today. In the new hatreds and passions engendered between Arab and Jew, Jew and Britain, Arab and Britain, the far-reach-ing effects of future international repercussions are easily discernable, and once again ‘John Bull’ has found himself the victim of his own good nature and efforts to see fair play. Policing that difficult tract of historic ground is no sinecure, and there is a limit to the patience with which Britain has carried out her self-imposed task in order that Jews and Arabs may be prevented from slitting each others throats. It is refreshing therefore to note the announcement yesterday that the British Government is no longer prepared to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining the peace in Palestine and has thrown the onus on the Council of the United Nations. If ever there was case of rank ingratitude to a nation which risked a first class war in order to prevent persecution of the Jewish race, it exists in the ranks of the terrorist groups who delight in the slaughter of unsuspecting English Civil Servants or of isolated soldiers who are merely trying to maintain order. These cowardly groups have accounted for the lives of hundreds of British Tommies, and scores of clerical workers and others from the administrative headquarters. The bitterest lesson would be to completely withdraw British protection, permit of unlimited Jewish migrants to re-enter the country and so pave the certain way to a ‘holy war’ by the Arabicspeaking world. Such action could only precipitate another major struggle and in order to avoid just such eventuality, -Britain has maintained her thankless task of policing, and administrating the Holy Land which she now desires to hand over to the world as represented by the United Nations Council, as a first class problem child.