VOLTE-FACE BY U.S.A.

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1948, Page 5

VOLTE-FACE BY U.S.A.

KEW YORK, May 15. American correspondents at Lake Suecess report that the closing session of United Nations General Assembly on Palestine, was staggered by the news that the United Htates had recognised the de faeto Jewish Etate of Israel. The United Press eorrespondent says that on and off the floor, diplojnats ridiculed tlie position of the United States who pushed tlie liistoric Palestine partition programme through the General Assembly last November, summoned an eiuergency session to reverse the partition action and then acted abruptly to recognise the Jewish State. The Herald-Tribune eorrespondent asserts that a consensus of opinion of .United Xations., delegations friendlv to the United States, was that President Truman 's annouiicement was prompted by two considerations — a desire to beat Russia in extending reeognition to the Jewish State and considerations of domestie politics in an election year. In an editorial, however, the HeraldTribune says: "In reeognition of Israel, President Truman . has recognised an inescapable fact. itowevei oddly liis act may fit into the curious pattern of American diplomaey in the Xear East, this step is the only one consonant with American tradition and with the realities of the case. " Aceording to the New Yorlc Times, yfr. Grqinyko iiulicated at Flusliing that the Soviet llnion would recognise the new State. The Times also carried a report from its Washington eorrespondent, that Britain proposed to withhold reeognition x)endhig stabilisation of the Palestine situation aud indications that Israel was in eontrol of its borders.