END OF BRITISH MANDATE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25367, 15 December 1947, Page 7

END OF BRITISH MANDATE

“MAY BE EARLIER THAN MAY 15”

STATEMENT BY MR BEVIN „ „ . LONDON, December 12, K, Britain s negotiations with the United Nations moved more quickly than they were expected to, Britain would fix a date earlier than May 15 lor relinquishing the Palestine nun. date, said the Foreign Secretary (Mr Ernest Bevin) in the debate on Palestine in the House of Commons -Mr Bevin mad £ L‘ clear ' however, that May 15 would be the latest data. He said that the removal from Palestine ot the implements of war was receiving priority. "We shan’t leave any dangerous toys,” he said Replying io criticisms of the British administration. Mr Bevin said he believed that if the Government had been left without interference from outside agreement could have been reached. The Government came very near getting agreement, only to have the cup dashed from its lips. It was h‘tter to have to face this. He believed that Arab feeling had been underestimated. The Government was not going to SP P ? S ?, th® United Nations decision United Nations to £ or< r e - He could not use British organised force or be a nartv to putting a British force under any other command Mr Bevin said it had been decided Rriti^ dr r aw—tha same time as the British forces— units of the Arab had been serving under the British General Officer Commanding under a long-standing agreement with King Abdullah of Transjordan.