The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1947. PALESTINE ISSUE BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22317, 30 April 1947, Page 4

The Gisborne Herald. IN WHICH IS INCORPORATED “THE TIMES.” GISBORNE, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1947. PALESTINE ISSUE BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS

REFERENCE of the Palestine case to the United Nations provides the complete answer to previous charges that British policy is designed' to perpetuate British rule in the Holy Land. At the same time it does not follow that Britain intends to shod her responsibilities and retire from the Palestinian scene. It has been made clear in the discussions under way at Lake Success that the British Government is ready to accept any decision reached by the United Nations and is also willing to play its part in implementing that decision. One of the main stipulations is that it must not be expected to assume full responsibility. In truth, Britain lias played her part efficiently and patiently in the face of grave terrorist provocation. The gangster element among the Palestinian Jews launched what was virtually a war to drive the British out of Palestine and to seize control of. the country, where for 25 years the mandatory Power had striven honourably to discharge its trust of maintaining peace and justice between the. Jews and the Arabs. When Britain became the guardian of Palestine under the League of Nations mandate she undertook, with the moral backing of the nations, to do her utmost to establish in Palestine a national home for the Jewish people and at the same time protect the rights of the Arab race. In doing so she exhausted every means of settlement that, with justice, would satisfy both Jew and Arabs. Had she been given since the war the material aid she asked from the United Nations she might have secured agreement to the setting up of a bi-national State, which may yet be the only answer to the Palestine problem. The crisis, of course, is not yet over. Arab headquarters has rejected the partition idea, opposed the establishment of a Jewish State in any part of Palestine and has also turned, down the proposal for a bi-national State based upon political parity. That, on the surface, is a gloomy picture, but there are encouraging indications that behind the scenes the leaven of compromise is working in favour of acceptance of some form of partition. It is difficult to visualise the United Nations holding any workable alternative view. At any rate, it will now be for the United Nations to seek an answer to the riddle that has baffled the British Government and to lend its weight to whatever scheme is devised. If further policing of Palestine is needed—as most likely it will be for some time to come—these duties cannot be left to Britain alone now that she has pledged herself to accept and stand by any decision of the United Nations, even if it means officially evacuating the country. One of the most encouraging developments during the past few days has been the announcement by the Jewish Agency of the inauguration of an invigorated drive against terrorism. This change of face by the Agency, which had once refused point-blank to co-operate with the Administration against terrorism,, probably originates from its fear that persistence in such an attitude was undermining its authority over the Palestinian Jews. Whatever solution is finally devised, official Jewry should be in a more amenable frame of mind, especially if American statesmanship makes its weight felt. The big question mark of the future may be the Arab reaction and its effect on wider Imperial interests in the Mediterranean. From that point of view Britain could never remain uninterested.