PARTITION IN PALESTINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 4

PARTITION IN PALESTINE

The delegates to the General Assembly of the United Nations have not shirked their responsibilities in the attempt to discover a solution to the vexed problem of Palestine; it now remains to be seen whether they are prepared to enforce the measures they have approved. They had, indeed, little choice but to vote for the partition, since any other course would have invited complete chaos throughout Palestine on the withdrawal of British authority next year, and Great Britain had already served notice that she intended to withdraw from the country regardless of the outcome of the Assembly’s discussions. Great Britain’s attitude throughout has been and honourable. British blood* and treasure have been freely expended in the endeavour to settle the differences between Jews and Arabs, but the aims of the two races have proved irreconcilable, and the British Government, in surrendering the mandate, has made it clear that British forces will not be used to implement any plan that has not the full approval of both parties. The United Nations Assembly was, therefore, presented with a double-pronged problem; that of determining a policy for the future of Palestine, and that of discovering a means by which the policy could be put into effect with a minimum amount of risk to the peace of the world.

The first part of the problem was settled, though certainly not solved, by the vote in favour of partition, but the question of how to enforce in Palestine the decision that was made at New York was taken no further for the reason that no complete plan for the implementation of partition is in existence. A commission of administration, consisting of five small nations,, has been appointed to take control after the British withdrawal, but it is clear that the full authority, and possibly the armed strength, of the United Nations will be required before partition can be put into effect. Already both parties in Palestine are preparing for war. The Arabs, confident of support promised from other Moslem countries, have repudiated the decision of the Assembly and are marshalling their forces to resist' the establishment of. a Jewish nation in Palestine: the Jews, heartened by the partial

realisation of their aspirations, are determined to hold what they have, and, though many of them are likely, to be disappointed at the non-appearance of the hosts of American tanks, planes and soldiers that over-zealous propagandists have promised them, their closely-knit organisation will not easily be destroyed. The principal danger, however, lies not in any localised conflict in Palestine, but in the wider implications of such a collision. A powder train lighted in Palestine could flash through the whole Moslem world and precipitate calamities that might once again endanger civilisation. One power only, the United Nations, has the authority to check such a conflagration, and that is why the Assembly, having made its decision, must be prepared to act with determination and complete impartiality in this, the most critical test that has yet been imposed on it.