COURAGE REQUIRED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26633, 2 December 1947, Page 5

COURAGE REQUIRED

Difficulties of Security Council PARTITION OF PALESTINE

Rec. 9 p.m. * NEW YORK, Nov. 30. The New York Times, in a leader on the United Nations Assembly’s decision on Palestine, says it seems probable that the failure to make adequate provision for enforcement explains not only some of the negative votes but also some of the abstentions. Failing the willing compliance of the two peoples whose future it involves “ the Security Council must be courageous enough and resolute enough to supply the necessary means of enforcement.”

A Herald-Tribune editorial describes the Assembly’s action as “ one of the few great acts of courageous and collective statesmanship which our shattered post-war world has been able to achieve.” The article continues: “ The plan represents only a very rough justice at best, and because of the difficulties of enforcement and the fact that it includes no detailed programme of its own administration, there is no certainty of its practical success. It is also clear from the shifting attitudes of various delegations and from the composition of the final vote that the plan was adopted basically because there was no alternative.

“Whatever the plan brings, however, the United Nations vote will be a powerful aid and support for reasonable courses. The Assembly has had the will to speak. That in itself is a new factor and it leaves us with a new hope.”

Pressure was put on the various delegations to the United Nations General Assembly to vote against their better judgment and convictions on the Palestine partition issue, declared Mahomad Ayub, secretary-general of the Pakistan delegation to-day. “These are the delegations which opposed the partition or were neutral, yet which, under some influence, changed their position in the final voting. This is an unfortunate development in the United Nations, and does not augui well for the future. We feel that the decision on Palestine is illegal, unworkable and lacking in moral validity," he said. Pakistan was one of the 13 nations which voted against the partition.

The Prime Minister of Iraq, Sayid Salih Jabur, predicted that, an unbelievable massacre would follow the partition of Palestine, savs Reuter’s Bagdad correspondent. The Prime Minister said it was the Arabs’ duty to act to save Palestine, and “ we are acting now.’’ The Damascus correspondent of the British United Press says a mob turned on the Communist Party headquarters, but shots repelled them. Three students were killed, and the mob retaliated by firing on the headquarters, killing four Communists. They also stoned the French Legation. The demonstrators then gathered to hear the Syrian president. Al-Kowatly, declare that partition would not be enforced before the last Arab was annihilated. Recruiting centres have been opened and hundreds of volunteers have already registered. Demonstrations occurred in Aleppo, but there were no casualties.

Arab Bitterness The walkout by the six Arab Stal'es from the General Assembly when the Palestine vote was taken yesterday does not. at present indicate Arab withdrawal from other United Nations activities.

Cairo Students on Strike

Reuter’s Cairo correspondent says that 2000 students of Farouk University. Alexandria, decided to notify the Arab Higher Committee of their readiness to shed their blood for Palestine and await the Grand Mufti's order. They agreed to boycott all nations which voted for partition. The students then went on strike. Police and warders fired on Arab prisoners in Acre central prison after Arabs attacked Jewish prisoners while the Jews were exercising, says Reuter’s Jerusalem correspondent, quoting an official report. .The Jews were sent back to their cells without casualties. Three Arabs were wounded and two are missing. Police reinforcements were sent to the prison, and troops stood bv the rest of the flight. The Damascus correspondent of the Associated Press reports that an Arab mob of 6000 set fire to the American Legation, destroyed a car, tore down ihe American flag, then passed on to the Russian-Syrian culture centre and wrecked it

The Arab delegates to-day showed their profound bitterness at what they regarded as an unjust settlement, but they made it clear that they had no intention of declaring a general boycott of United Nations affairs.

Unless .instructed to the contrary, Faris el Khoury .(Syria) intends to play a full part if the Palestine problem comes before the Security Council, of which he is the only Arab member. At a press conference to-day, el Khoury declared that the Arabs would oppose partition of Palestine with ali the forces in their possession. He stated that the Arabs considered any attempt to establish a Jewish nation in Palestine would be an act of aggression. The United Nations Charter authorised each member nation to oppose aggression. The Arabs, therefore, would use force to resist aggression against them.

“We shall see if the sponsors of the partition plan will send forces to suppress resistance to their aggression. ’ said el Khoury. Jewish leaders said to-day they did not under-estimate the difficulties ahead, not only in dealing with possible Arab hostility, but also in finding common ground between the various branches of Jewish political activity in Palestine.,

Protest From Iraq

The Iraq Cabinet nas issued a communique expressing deep sorrow' over, and protesting strongly against, the “unjust decision of the United Nations,” but assuring the nation meanwhile that it would carry out to the full Iraq’s obligations towards Palestine. and reauesting the people to avoid acts which might harm the Arabs’ case in Palestine. The communique gave ap assurance that Cabinet would prevent by all means execution of the United Nations decision. 1