PALESTINE BURDEN

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1946, Page 6

PALESTINE BURDEN

BRITISH APPROACH TO UNITED STATES NEW MOVE THOUGHT LIKELY LONDON, August 2. “High level discussions on the future of Palestine are under consideration,” says the political correspondent of the Daily Express. Mr... Attlee or Mr. Bevin may go to Washington for talks with President Truman. The object would be to get a firm undertaking that full responsibility for any action taken would be openly shared by the United States Government. The political correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says: “The Cabinet meeting to which Mr. Attlee flew from Paris to-day discussed the resignation of the British mandate over Palestine as a serious possibility.” Task Too Heavy. The correspondent adds that the Cabinet inclines to the view, in which it is supported by the Opposition, that the- task of maintaining order, and economic and political stability in Palestine is too heavy for one State.

He adds that the Cabinet hopes for United States support and cooperation, but if it is not forthcoming the Cabinet will be willing to propose to Parliament that the mandate be returned to the United Nations.

“The deputy commander of the Stern Gang, Itzhak Yesternitsky, was caught last night in Tel Aviv just as high Palestine police officers were preparing to end the hunt,” reported the Jerusalem correspondent of the Daily Mail. “Yesternitsky was recognised by a kink in his right eyebrow and his disfigured ears,” said the Tel Aviv correspondent of the Daily Express. “He was posing as a rabbi and wearing a long, black, but over-youthful beard. In spite of the little black skullcap and dark clothes of Jewish orthodoxy, he was regarded as suspicious at a screening area in northern Tel Aviv, and was sent to 2nd Infantry Brigade headquarters. There he went before a London sergeant, credited with a photographic memory, who glanced at the identity card giving the name of Dov Shamir, and from the card to the owner’s face. The sergeant saw the curious clipped ears and kinked eyebrow, and said: ‘Shalom Itzhak’ (‘Peace, Isaac’). “Yesternitsky turned quickly and then pretended he was not being addressed, but it was too late. A third British officer, Captain Spencer, who was kindapped on June 18, recognised another of his captors.” Anna Stern, a sister of Abraham Stern, founder of the Stern Gang, is one of 35 “extremely important persons” among the 664 arrested. She is suspected of being a link between the Stern Gang and Irgun Zvai Leu ini.

JEWISH FORCES DRILLING IN GERMANY LONDON, August 1. “Drilling outside the dispersed persons’ camp at Foehakenwald by Jews who are making their way to Palestine is alarming the United States occupation authorities in Germany,” says the Bavaria correspondent of the Daily Express. The tension is so great that trouble may start at any moment. Armed American guards have cordoned off the camp, where one Jew has been killed by a German policeman and six others bayoneted by Americans. “Members of the Jewish Agency from Palestine are said to be in the camp training specially chosen men. The major trouble seems to be that the camo is completely controlled by the inmates and it is impossible at any time for the authorities to tell who is inside. Parties of men disappear overnight and their places are taken by strangers. It is impossible to keep a proper check on the underground work in the camp. “There are known to be more than 4000 Jews in the camp, with a single aim—to get to Palestine. An American field supervisor lor UNRRA, Mi. Carl. Cohen, said: ‘No doubt there is a link at this camp' with Palestine. The aim of these people is to get to Palestine, and get there they will.’ “UNRRA officials estimate that there are 100,000 Jews in the United States zone who arc making their way to Palestine by secret routes. TEL AVIV CURFEW PARTLY LIFTED (Rec. 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 2. Tel Aviv’s “shoot-at-sight cut few, imposed on July 30 when Britisn troops began a street-by-stieet comii-out for suspects connected with the Hotel David outrage, was lifted in the southern part of the city to-day. The deserted streets imme diateiy filled with people who, while the search went on, had been virtual prisoners. _ The British authorities in Jerusalem began searching the faslponable Rahavia area in the vicinity of the Jewish Agency headquarteis. LEVANT STATES TO ATTEND CONFERENCE (Rec? 10 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 2. Transjordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi-Arabia have accepted Bntain’s invitation to a conference m London on Palestine, says the Exchange Telegraph. Britain will invite tne Jews ana Arabs, after hearing the views o_ the Arabian States’ representatives.