VOICE OF JEWS TO BE HEARD IN U.N.O. DEBATES

Evening Star, Issue 26091, 3 May 1947, Page 7

VOICE OF JEWS TO BE HEARD IN U.N.O. DEBATES

(Rec. 11.15 a.m.) . NEW YORK, May 2. Britain, America, and Russia now seem agreed that the Jews should be given a voice in the United Nations Assembly debates on Palestine, but they differ on method. Russia supports a Polish plan which was formally placed before the Assembly’s Steering Committee to-day, providing that Jewish Agency representatives should appear before the Assembly “ for consultation.” The present attitude of the United States is that Jewish representatives should appear only before one of the . Assembly’s committees. Britain agrees the Jews should have a voice in the proceedings, “ if a constitutional method can be found.” The United Nations Secretary-Gene-ral, M. Trygve Lie, warned the. Steering Committee to-day that an important precedent would be established if a non-governmental organisation was invited to appear before the Assembly. He emphasised that he was not trying to influence the committee, but was merely, directing attention to past practice. 1 . ‘ - M. Joseph Winiewicz (Poland) explained that the Polish resolution meant that the Jewish Agency should be at the Assembly’s disposal, “to answer all questions about the Palestine situation.” Poland’s special interest in the problem lay in the fqct that 60 per cent, of the Palestine spoke Polish, and the Nazis had made Poland a Jewish graveyard. There were no sinister motives behind the Polish resolution Mr Asaf Ali (India) said that not only the Jews, but all sections of Palestine’s population, should he heard, even if only by the special inquiry committee which the Assembly proposed to establish. FATE OF JEWS. One could not isolate Jews as being alone worthy of consideration.. The Jews had contributed enormously to, every nation, but their weakness was that they relied too much on the particular country which favoured them for the time being. Each big Power in turn favoured themi but subsequently persecuted them and used them for political ends. Asaf Ali added that he was afraid the Jews might ignite such a spark that Palestine might be bombed out of existence, M. Winiewicz strengthened his resolution by accepting the Czech amendment providing that Jewish Agency representatives should be invited to appeal specifically before a plenary session 'of the Assembly “ for one purpose—to express their views oil the Palestine question.” The Polish delegation seems confident of having Russian support for the resolution. . ■ Hitherto. M- Gromyko has remained notably silent, but yesterday he voted for the Arab proposal, which was defeated, providing that . the. Assembly should discuss the termination of■ the British mandate and the declaration of Palestine independence.