Arabs Are Prepared To Die

Chronicle (Levin), 10 July 1948, Page 5

Arabs Are Prepared To Die

(N.Z.P.A.-

-Reuter

ComriQht)

Reeeived Friday, 7 p.m-. NEW YORK, July 8. In,a last minute attempt to avert the res-irmption oi' full scale .war in Palestine, the Seeurity Couneil met in an emergency session this evening and was immediately i'aced with a cable irom Count Remadotte, United Nations' mediator, saying: " It seems quite irn possible- i'or me to bbtain an agreement oi' the tivo parties not to resnme hostilities." 1 Count Bernadotte promised to continue his attempt to find a peaeeful solntion but deelared that although Israel was prepared to aeeept a trnee extension, the Arabs were not prepared to aeeept it nnder present condi'tions "in view of their experienees of the past fonr weeks."

During the debate, Mr. Philip Jessup (TJnited Statcs) said Count Berua dotte'e eable was rather ambiguo is. For instance, the Arabs wero (|uoted as saying tliuy could not aeeept a* pro lorigation ot ihe trnee under piv.-mm eondit ions but did not say what those foridilions were or what eondit ions they wonld aeeept. Tlie mediator furtiiet assumed that war would breaa oui again but in another passage said he did not eonsider liis niission at an -mu ' ' My Government weleomes the fael Israel has aeeepted a prolongation ot the trnee. It is liard to bedieve that the Arai) Htates liave aetualJy rejerted an extension and are eonteinplatiiig re verting to war in violation ot tluCharter. ' ' .Mr. .Tessup eontended that when oue party elearlv stated it was prepared to aeeept. an extension of the trnee, tlie " other party eould not justifv war oa tlie ground of s'elf-defenee. "If tlie Arabs liave definitelv lejeeted a further truee. the rnited Btates Government believes the eounei has n'o ehoiee but to find that there is a tlireat to peaee undo'r artiele 39 of the Charter but on the doemnent before utllere is a certain degree of uneertainty and ambiguity. If a prolongation ot a truee is prevented by oue party or the other. the eouneil wiil eoiii'nmt a situu tion the gravity of whieli eannot be overeni])hasised. " Mr. Jessup added: " My Government is prepared to earry out i t s obliga tions. ' ' Arabs Eeady to Die Paris el Klioury tSvria.i asked wliv the Couneil 's truee propostil was eonsideved obligatory. Tlie Couneil liao made deeisions in other eases but when they were vioJated tliere was 110 talU of imposing ehupter 7 of tlie Charter (oeononne and military sanetion). " We say' to LJuited Xations. if you wish to ' a.Ct .un'der ehapter 7," do -so. Tlie Arab« are ready to be.killed i >y Aineriein atoini" ' bombs. ' If Fmted Xations iliUbids to traniplP nn'dCrfoof all priin-inles of justiee, let theni do it. We Arabs ar.e preiiared to die. Aubrey Kbun i Israel; said it wa.-, ^elear frorn ihe mediator's niessage that , he had reeeived a final and i rrevoea.bie refusal I'roni the Arabs to prolong tln truee. "The Charter leaves tlie Couneil 110 elioiee when its appeal is ope.dv fiouled or in dauger of being tlouteu The. -Vabs are not resorling to self defeuee. If hostili,ties; are resumed. , Isi-ael's duty shines c.Jear, he said. Tlie eouiieil adjourned .after deeidiag to ask tlie aicdiator and liotli t'he Araos and Jews to npiort liy toniorrow wliat the sit nation is.