Fears Of Russian Participation If Arabs Invade Palestine

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1948, Page 5

Fears Of Russian Participation If Arabs Invade Palestine

(N.Z.P.A

. — Reuter ■„

Copyright)

. ' Received Friday, 8.5 p.m. LONDON, April 30. The British ended the fonr-day battle for "the Arab city of Jaffa last night by sending the Jews an iiltimatum that full military aetion would be taken against theni tiiiless their 'Gndiscriminate'' attaek on the city ceased. ■ The .Jews iinmediately took heed and the ceaseflre was ordered in Jaffa mitil 9 a.m. loeal time today when the Arabs. and Jews are to meet with British mediators to discuss truee terms. . To prove that they meant business, says the Baily Express Jerusalem correspoiulent, the British sent a Spitfire squadron 011 a sweep over the Jewish guit positions and called oti two cruisers to join the norma! destroyer patrol off the Palestine coast. The ultimatum which was drafted hy tlie Higli Commissioner (Sir Alan ( /uiiningham) wariied the Jews that the British would liit with all their available I'orees, ineluding rocket-tiring Typhoolis, if they ehose defianee. It added that the British I'orees hitherto had shown the utmost restraint, but their toleranee was ending. They were determined to prevent l)loodshed, and particularly the killing of women and children, for the rest of their stav in Palestine. A New York message states that American officials have warned Arai) diplomats ]>rivately that Russia mav be drawn into the Middle East if th.e Arabs insist 011 wai* in Palestine, says the United Press Lake Suceess eorrespondent. The United States ai'gues that if a fullseale war breaks otit in Palestine the United Nations Seeurity Rouncil would assume jurisdietion with the possibility of a Russian role. There are indications, however, that the Arai) leaders are eonfident that the Western Powers will under no eireumstanees permit a situation that would enable the Soviet to send troops to Ihe Middle East. Prior to the agreement British troops serviee under the Uolonial Offiee and

fonght an artillerv duel 011 the outskirts of JalTa with the Irgun and llagannah forees trying to press mto the centre of the towii. The Arab evaeuation was eontinuing, and it was reported that the Arabs had ordereu eomplete evaeuation of the port unless the British inlervention looked Jike holding the Jewish attaek. A battalion of the Irish F11M liers has arrived in JalTa, inereasing the strength of the British forees there to abont :U)0(i. Royal Air Foree Spit fires fiew over the Jewish positions and at times swept o\'er Toi Avivi, but did not open Jire. Irgun units eontinued to mop up isolated iioekets of Arab resistanee in Manshieh, and took several dozen more yirisoiiers. Reinforeements were ruslied to the area to fortify the jiositions tlie Jews lield there. Two British destrovers have arrived in Tel Aviv. Twenty Jew.^ were killed and several score wounded 011 the JalTa front in the 24 hours preeeding the eease-lire. Ilalt of them are elaimed to have beeu easualties from British guns. A Jewish Agenev spokesman in Jerusalem alleged- that Arab Legion forees attaeked (lesher, a Jewish settlement MUitii of the Sea of (Jalilee and the Trans.jordan frontier, yes1.er\lav. A message from the Arai) Jjegion in Palestine to King Abdullah said the Jewish forees in (lesher surrendered to the legion, whieh eiaimed that hundreds of Jews were killed. In Aminan -.the Regent said the Iraiji army had starled moving from Bagdad towards Palestine. The Eg.vptian ^Lnister of Uommunications ( Dessooki Al>aza Pasha ) in Uairo eonfirmed reports "that large EgyptVian army aml air forees^ had been sent to the Egyptian borders faeing Palestine. It was officially announeed in Jerusalem tliat all Arab prisoners, estimated at P)U, escajn'cl from Latrun detention cttm]), near Rainleh, 011 the JerusalemTel Aviv Road after tlye prisoners had set lire to a number of buildings. Officials Arrive In London. Ninety British eivilian officials and their families arrived in London by air from Palestine to day. Tlie Mayor of Jerusalem (Mr. R. M. Oravesi said there were 110 iire Iirigailes and either oue side or the other had stolen nearly all the veincles flffi'city.!; Jy .Miss P. Ibillevne, a (53-year-old missionary, said the situatioir in Palestine was terrible. The Jews and the Arabs hated eai-li other, and both hat-c-d the British. Air. A. (". Wood, the manager of tne I.ydda air])ort, said the Arab lootmg at the airport had reaehed ,an 1111-heard-of scale. They had taken everyt hing movable.