“Menacing Situation”-— DISSATISFACTION WITH ISRAELI

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1948, Page 5

“Menacing Situation”-— DISSATISFACTION WITH ISRAELI

(Recd. 10.30 a.m.) October 14. The United Nations Security Council began its discussion of violations of the Palestine truce which the acting mediator, Dr Ralph Bunche, declared indicated an increasingly serious situation. Dr. Bunche recommended stronger measures to ensure safety for the truce observers and better .compliance from tne Arabs and the Jews in keeping the peace. He dealt at length with .the events leading to Count Bernadotte’s assassination and said the Stern Gang had been opposed to the whole principle of mediation and conducted an open campaign against the mediator. Dr Bunche said that negligence on the Jews’ part led to Count Bernadotte’s assassination. The crime could not have been committed if proper precautions had been taken. He urged the Council to demand full accounting by the Israeli Government and protested that he. had not received official information on what progress the Government had made towards capturing the Stern Gang assassins.

Sir Alexander Cadogan (Britain), on behalf of Britain and China, introduced a resolution calling on the Israeli Government to submit to the Security Council at an early date an account of the progress made in the investigations into Count Berndotte’s assassination and reminding the Israeli and Arab Governments of their obligations to ensure the free, passage and safety of all United Nations representatives. The resolution also asked that the Israeli Government indicate the measures taken with regard to the negligence on the part of officials or other factors affecting the crime. Terrorist Gangs “Dr Bunche’s report,” Sir Alexander Cadogan said, “ reveals a menacing situation. Unless every measure possible is taken as urgently as possible, the terrorist gangs-will feel they can operate with impunity against the United Nations representatives.” After referring to the 'deliberate campaign led by Dr Joseph, Military Governor ,of Jerusalem, to discredit Dr Bunche and the Truce Commission,” Sir Alexander Cadogan added: “It is evident that elements in Palestine are seeking to eliminate the United Nations from the country altogether. It is high time the Council did something to reassert its authority.” . , _ The representative of the Provi-

sional Government of Israel, Mr Aubrey Eban, said his Government had only been called upon to establish itself under a semi-circle of fire, out of the administrative chaos created by its predecessor. In such circumstances he did not find it possible to come to the conference table with any feeling of shame. “I never cease to be surprised at hearing the Government of Israel repeatedly enjoined to exercise authority by those who deny that any Government exists,” he added. “Nevertheless it will exercise authority.”

The council adjourned without taking a vote.'