HEATED PROTESTS BY ARABS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22319, 2 May 1947, Page 5

HEATED PROTESTS BY ARABS

INQUIRY BY U.N. PALESTINE ISSUE ASSEMBLY APPROVES STUDY OF BRITISH PLAN (10 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 1. Despite vigorous Arab objections the United Nations’ Assembly today decided to place on the agenda a British proposal for the establishment of a committee to investigate the Palestine problem, thus adopting the recommendation of the Assembly’s steering committee which has been the scene of a bitter struggle over the last two days. The Arabs want the Assembly to consider immediately the termination of the British mandate and the declaration of Palestine's independence. "Jewish Immigration Like Petrol” Delegates from Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Saudi-Arabia heatedly told the Assembly today that all the facts about ,Palestine were already known and there was no need for the committee. Dr. Radhil Jarnali, Iraq, appealed to the United States to cease advocating further Jewish immigration into Palestine, saying passionately: “Part of our home is on fire and the flames are speading. Immigration is like petrol poured on the flames.” Both Dr. Jamail and Faris El Khoury, Syria, clashed with the president, Dr. Oswaldo Aranha, who warned them that they were straying too far from the subject under discussion. After nearly two hours’ debate, the Assembly adopted the British proposal without a dissentient voice. U.S. Abandons Opposition Meanwhile, the United Press reports that the United States has suddenly abandoned its opposition to giving the Jews a voice in the discussions, and is seeking a formula to enable the representative Jewish Agency to participate. The United Press believes that the new American attitude is the result of strong pressure which the Jewish Agency has been exerting in Washington and its repeated appeals to President Truman. It is believed that the United States will still oppose the Jewish request for representation in the Assembly itself because of the precedent which might thus be created, but will favour allowing a Jewish spokesman to appear before one of the Assembly’s committees. ,