PALESTINE WITHDRAWAL

Chronicle (Levin), 17 January 1948, Page 5

PALESTINE WITHDRAWAL

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuler.

Britain Keeping Date Secret To Avoid Bloodshed

Covvright)

Reeeived Friday, 7 p.m. NEW YORK, Jan. 16. Britain 's timetable for Tvithdrawing from Palestine, has been placed under lock and key in United Nations headquarters. Sir Alexander Cadogan, Britisk delegate to United Xations, shoived the schedule to the Palestine Gouimission and ten speeiallv seleeted United Xations seeretariat members, last night. The dates for the witlidrawal are being kept strietlv secret because British oflieials and United Xations diplomats consider a disclosure to the Arabs or to the .Tews ivould increase tlie bloodshed in Palestine bv giving advance notice pf places open to attnek. Ife Alexander Cadogan offered eaeh l^oinmission inember a eopy of the time- ■ talile bnt eaeli refused to take it, deciding to aceept one eopy only and place it in a slrongbox. Ameriean diplomats at home and abroad wero tohi todav tliat United States' poliev is to leave tlie United Xations tlie problem of onforeing the Palestine partition. Tlie order was cited by Rtate Bepartment oflieials when asked for eonunent 011 the Arab I.eague announcement in Cairo that the I.eague is advising Arab States to move troops to Palestine as soon as Britain witlulraws. AFr. Vieente Francisco, the Philippines meniber of the Palesline Partition Connnission, gavo notice todav of a resolution that the Uommission rerpiest the Securitv Council inunediately to establish an international niilitary; force to niaintain order in Palestine. Mr. Francisco pvesented the proposal at a elosed meeting of the Uommission. ARABS DISPERSE WHEN BRITISH ARE REINFORCED Roeoived. Fridav, 7 p.m. JERUSALEM, .Tan. l. Arabs who surrounded four .Tewish settlements near Hebron, dispersed quickly when British reinforcements .joined those who had been trving to ; ke"p the .lernsalem-IIebron Road clear ever sinee the Arabs first attacked at | dawn yesterday. Rix Spitlires made sveeps over .Ternsalem, Bethlehem/ Hebron and the intervening country, , and tanks protectivelv eneireled the settlements. British niilitary headqnarters said at least three .Tews and 14 Arabs were killed and 24 Arabs and nine .Tews i wonnded in the Arab attaeks on the settlements. The Arabs are believed to have removed manv of their dead before the Arinv Medical Uorps arrived. ' Jewish oasnalties also are believed to | be nnderestimated.