POLICY CONDEMNED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 79, 13 January 1949, Page 5

POLICY CONDEMNED

ATTACK BY MR R. A. EDEN Washington Must Take Share of Blame (N.Z.P.A.-Keuter—Copyright). (Rec. 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 12. Mr Anthony Eden, speaking at Warwick, described the flight on which British pilots were shot down over the Sinai Desert as entirely purposeless and deplorable. He criticised the recent handling of events in the Middle East as confused and ill-consid-i ered. He said he had been anxiious for a long time lest events in Palestine should imperil AngloAmerican friendship and understanding. Surely the time had now come when a supreme effort must be made to agree on AngloAmerican policy and to carry it out.

Mr Eden asked why were aircraft sent to make a reconnaissance, and Avhat useful British purpose could the flight be held to serve. “The whole recent handling of events in this quarter of the world has been an unhappy one of confused purpose and ill-considered action. The Government persisted obstinately in its own courses despite repeated warnings, both from the Opposition and even from the Government side of the House. Admittedly the position has been aggravated by the failure of London and Washington to agree on a common policy. Washington must take its share of the blame for failure either to declare its policy or take a firm line.”

AIRMAN’S ACCOUNT OF INCIDENT

“INSTRUCTED TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS”

(Rec. 9.30 a.m.)' LONDON, Jan. 12. One of the British pilots shot down last Friday told reporters to-day that liis Spitfire was over Israeli territory when it was set on fire by shots from Jewish ground troops, says Reuter’s correspondent at Tel-Aviv, The pilot was a Londoner, Frank Harvey Close, attached to the R.A.R. reconnaissance wing at the Suez Canal base. Hev said he knew the flight had crossed the border because he was familiar with the roadmarks in the area. He could not say whether the flight leader knew. “We received information suggesting that Israeli forces had crossed into" Egypt and were instructed to .photograph their advance positions. We arrived at the front without seeing any troops, whereupon we crossed the* frontier. I then saw. lots of troops. Our leader took photographs. I assume it was then that tire odd bullet got my engine. The plane caught fire and I jumped,” said the airman. Close said that the pilots had been instructed that if they ran into trouble they were not ' to fire on ground targets, even in reply, and to “shoot their way out” against hostile planes only as the last resort. They had been ordered to evade action* if engaged by aircraft. In London an y\ir Ministry spokesman stated that the Ministry had not a statement on the interview with Close. The Air Ministry in . refusing to comment, on the interview declared: “The Ministry has already given the ‘true facts’ in its communiques.”

ARMISTICE NEGOTIATIONS ANOTHER ARAB STATE JOINS IN (Rec. 12.15 p.ra.) LONDON, Jan. 12. Another Arab State, in addition to Egypt, will take part in the armistice negotiations that open at Rhodes tomorrow morning, said the Israeli Prime Minister (Ben Gurion) in TelAviv to-day. He refused to name the State but Reuter’s correspondent says that well-informed observers believe it is Lebanon. The Israeli delegation to the talks is headed by the permanent undersecretary of the foreign office (Walter Eytan). The Egyptian delegation is headed by Colonel Mohamed Seif Eddine. The United Nations mediator (Dr. Bunche) after greeting the delegates at Rhodes to-day told reporters that the future looked promising.

APPEAL BY UNITED STATES NOT TO DISTURB STATUS QUO (Rec. 12.40) WASHINGTON, Jan. 12. The United States had appealed to the British Government not to do anything to disturb the status quo in the Middle East, the acting-Seeretary of State (Mr Robert Lovett) said at a press conference to-day. Mr Lovetti said that the United States made the appeal when Britain informed her last week that British troops were being sent to Akaba. The concern of the United States was for peace in the Middle East and to assis in the negotiations between the Egyptian and Israeli representatives at Rhodes. The United Slates appealed to Britain, Egypt and Israel for restraint before Israelis shot down tlie British planes.

TRENCHES AT AKABA (Rec. 12.40 p.m.j LONDON, Jan. 12. British troops are digging trenches and consolidating their around Akaba, which consists of little more than a.few dozen houses and one small hotel, says the Associated Press correspondent at Amman. The former British Army camp is being rehabilitated.