BRITAIN’S POLICY RESTATED

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25428, 26 February 1948, Page 7

BRITAIN’S POLICY RESTATED

After Mr Austin had spoken, the British Colonial Secretary (Mr Arthur C-'eech Jones) told the Security Council that Britain would withdraw her troops from Palestine by August 1 at the .nest and would “acquiesce no longer a the use of British forces and the squandering of British lives to impose «policy which one or other of the tarties is determined to resist.” Mr Creech Jones added: “While the Council determine the nature of rapport to be given the Palestine Commission, my Government, because cf its past relations with Palestine and

because of its position, which has long been clear to all, must stand on its many declarations and refuse either individually or in associatiOh with others to impose the United Nations partition plan by force. The logic of our course is to abstain from voting on this issue.” Mr Creech Jones said that the British withdrawal from Palestine was already well under way, and should be completed by August 1. The Palestine Administraton was taking all practical steps to terminate its control by May 15.