ARABS STAND FIRM

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 February 1947, Page 7

ARABS STAND FIRM

“Na Jewish State In . Palestine” EVACUATION CONTINUES (Recd. noon) > LONDON, February 4. The Arab delegation at the Palestine conference in London definitely rejected any form of partition and the conference adjourned indefinitely. A communique issued in London announcing that the Arabs had rejected partition also stated that the Arabs “Could not consider the.establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.” Reuters understand that Mr. Bevin early in the conference told the delegates that the Government had not decided on any particular scheme. Therefore the Government had neither accepted nor rejected partition.

Meanwhile the evacuation of nearly 2000 British women and children and a number of' non-essential men began this morning in Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Tearful good-byes and confusion marked the evacuation of wives and families gathered at military centres at the evacuation towns. The evacuees travelled in army convoy manner. Police posts were established at every mile along the road from Jerusalem to Sarafand, from where, after staying one or two nights, the great majority will be flown in four-engined bombers to Egypt. As the last bus left Jerusalem one husband said: “Thank God that is

over. Now we can really get down to business.”

Viscount Hall, in a statement in the House of Lords, on Palestine, said said that all children and women including teachers, but excluding nurses, were being evacuated immediately. The Government had advised businessmen to go. Missionaries and. doctors would remain. Journalists had been told that if they chose to stay, the Government would not be responsible for their safety. He added that at the same time the Governments of Britain and Palestine were aware of the “vital importance” of preventing the dissemination of anti-British propaganda and hostile rumours.