American Reversal Of Policy On Palestine Partition

Chronicle (Levin), 22 March 1948, Page 5

American Reversal Of Policy On Palestine Partition

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter,

Copijright)

Received Stinday, 7.45 p.m. KEW "kOK-K, March 20. Ameriea 's reversal of- her policy on -Faiestine regardilig partition, though foreshadowed for some time, came as a siunnittg . blow to the United Natiotis. An observer at yesterday 's Big FoUr meeting said Mr. jGromyko seemed completely taken aback by the 1 , American move. * Reuter's diplomatic correspondent in Lpndon says well-inform-ed quarters believe that the Rritish Government will adhere to its decision to terminate the Palestine mandate on May 15 and complete the evacuation Of British troops by. August 1 despite the United States ' withdrawal of support for partitioning Palestine in favour pf a temporary United Nations trusteeship. British quarters consider the trusteeship plan scarcely more likely to be enforceable than the partition plan. There is anxiety that underlying the United States change oi view may -be the hope that Britain will after all continue to bear the responsibility for maintaining order in Palestine. This course would not find support in Parliament. If, however, the General Assembly voted the Palestine Commission out of existence the British Administration would have no nominal authority to which to transfer legal power, public assets or the official records on May 15.

A number of wcll-informed United Nations' delegates expressed the opinion that the renson for the United States' deeision to ahandon the Palestine partition plan was the growing tension betweeii the United States and the Soviet Union, says ihe New York Tirnes' correspondent at Lake Sueeess. Despite A 1 r. AYarren Auslin's legal arguments most of the delegates reinain convineed that the ehanged United States posilion resulted primarily from J'ears that Russia would gain a 1'oothold in Palestine if an inter- . natioual military foree was sent. ' ' Oil Diplomacy ' ' In addition the joint chiefs of staff in AVashington are known to believe tbat American participation in earrying out partition would alienate the Arab eountries and jeopardise the supplies of oil now received by Britain and the United States l'rom Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The '.nerald-Tribune's corres--ponderit at Lake Suee.ess. says that it ;is aufhorifatively reported that the abseuce of majority support in the Seeur-ity "Coiineil , for ' any Palestine action plys the laek oi American troops for the enforoe-

ment qf partition now, led tlu Pnited-'St^tbS' tq cqU'l'or a U nited Nations trusteeship over the Jloly Land. The' (wrrespondent points out that the Amerieans already are heavily committed militarily in spch jxlaces as Ko roa and (ierinany, and the country's anned strength is below-par. Therefore. even if more I'orees wero available Palestine would 'not be the first plaee to send tliem, CommePiting on the oil i*actoi\ the -eorrespondent adds that the American armed serviees are known to have been warned about tliis situation by tbe Jeading oil companies and tbe apparent re- • treat from partition is believed to have been ins])ired in part by military eonsiderations along this line.

Britain Determined to Quit on Due Date. A ('olonial Oilicc spoke-sman in Lon flon sayn Bx'itaiu ;i.s tk-tennined to eml thc miiinlate on Mity 15 and witlidraw the Brilish t'COops hv August 1. * An A.ssucint'ed ¥ I'r.'ss messuge'. fp.xm .Buitut says tlut Arnb l.eaguo .Secrel'uAGcnc.rnl (Azznm Pasiiu) decJared " thai t'ltc Enil-ed .States" -ibundoniiienr of- UaPalestine partition si.'iieine was wondetful. "Justice ahvuys prevnils in tlu long ruu. Tlu* Ara Its are willing »o accCpt a truce. We ahvays Waiti ed peace, hui 1 uni ' afraid tlie Zionists wili lose their lieads and iiglit. If so, we will aecept the challenge. The Ari!..-, would agree to a short delinite tru-t.ee-ship period, Itut not to shelving Pales tirie's independcace indelinitely. ' ' In Tel Aviv llaganah Uigh Command issued a statement : "llaganah will not tolerute strange rule in Palestine, 'nol e\cn trusteeship. If some oi the g"oat Powers have reversed tlieir opinion as a result of the threats of the ilrund Alufti and other pro-Xa/.i rulers the Jews are detennined to g'o iiu unl a .letvish .State will be estabiished. Palestine will be independent. Tl-.e Jews will iind a v\ ay to reaeh an understanding with the Arabs. " A llaganah source in Jerusalem eoniuiented: ','i,he United Mtates ' deeision in no wav ehanges our plans. We tnust tight.on to establish and hold Jc-wisli soveroignty in whatever parts of Pales tine we ean. If L'NO erases the boundary line it drew 011 Aoveuiber 29, 19-17, we shall try f»y our arnis to draw it agaiu iti jmrts oi' Palestine whieh are Jewish. " Keuter's eorrespondent in Jerusalem reports that Uritisli poliee guards near the United States Consulate were doubled as a pl'eeaution against Jewish terrorigt attaeks. Thousands. of Arab youths niarehed through Jerusalem shouting: ' Long ljve Ameriea! Ilravo Trumuji, Mara ha. 11 and Austin! "