PARTITION OF PALESTINE

Evening Star, Issue 26030, 19 February 1947, Page 7

PARTITION OF PALESTINE

URGED BY SECTION OF BRITISH PRESS WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO ARABS AND JEWS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent.; LONDON, February 18. Tlie Left Wing * New Statesman and Nation ’ describes the Palestine negotiations .in London as “this tragic ‘ farce,’’ and says that, even now, alter 18 months, the Government apparently does not realise there is no halfway house. Fruitless attempts to find one have already lost to Britain the friendship of both Jew and Arab, and desperately weakened moderates on both sides. '

The ‘.New Statesman ’ urges the Government to announce at oncß that it will recommend partition to the United Nations,Assembly next September, and in the meantime, to work out an interim plan based on the assumption that partition will be the final solution. ,

The ‘ Economist ’ says partition would give the Jews control of immigration into their part of Palestine, and also responsibility for settling immigrants! while; British or international control of the frontier would provide a safeguard for Arabs against any overflow into Arab territory. Both Arab and Jew are likely, the 1 Economist ’ says,'.to accept this at least as a basis for discussion, while there is no reason to believe that popular opinion in Britain would reject it. The ‘ Tribune,’ which has a substantial Labour Party backing, says it is difficult to understand why Cabinet has rejected the plan advanced by Mr Creech Jones, which would have laid the foundations for two self-governing communities in Palestine and at the same time have set up a Ceneral Government and allowed for - continued use of Palestine as a British base.

Lord Altrincham, a former Minister Resident in the Middle East, writing in the ‘ Sunday Times,’ says that botli the Jews and the Arabs are insisting upon a solution which is incompatible with the mandate or with an honourable discharge of Britain’s obligations. Mr Bevin, Lord Altrincham says, has shown untiring patience in negotiation, and has demonstrated that the good faith ot Britain is safe in his keeping. The root of the problem, he adds, is the rate of Jewish immigration, and it is the, duty of. Christendom to realise that Palestine cannot be expected to accommodate all the hopeless and homeless Jews of ravaged Europe.

The Arabs, he continued, have always declared that they will do their share, provided that other countries with more living room than Palestine also assist.