ARAB TERMS FOR TRUCE IN JERUSALEM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22624, 29 April 1948, Page 5

ARAB TERMS FOR TRUCE IN JERUSALEM

-W The British United Press correspondent in Cairo says that the Arab League sent a Note to foreign embassies and legations in Cairo announcl~lng its readiness to accept a truce in Jerusalem. The Note proposed the fallowing terms:— 1. The cessation of the struggle inside Jerusalem and a ban on attacks . against or from inside the city. 2. Arab and Jewish guards not to be disarmed. 3. The status quo of Jerusalem to be completely respected. The Note added “The Arabs, in their desire to assure the safety of other holy places at the Mount of Olives, are willing to extend the truce to them.’’ The Note says that the Arabs are also prepared to entrust religious bodies with the safe keeping of holy places and are prepared to subscribe towards the cost of maintaining a “holy bodyguard.” In London, the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevln, replying to questions in the House of Commons whether Britain was prepared to carry on or participate in the Palestine administration after May 15, said the withdrawal of British administrative personnel had begun and was proceeding rapidly. The Government could hot reverse the process at this late hour. Over 100 Palestine Government officials left Lydda airport for London in three packed British Overseas Airways planes today. This is the Government’s last air evacuation from the airfield. Only 20 Government officials and an unknown number of British constables and the High Commissione, General Sir Alan Cunningham remain in Jerusalem. They will leave on May 16.

The Arab League spokesman said there was “no doubt that the Amman pact signed by Transjordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon provides for future intervention by their regular armed forces in Palestine.” The spokesman said that King Farouk of Egypt had approved of the pact, but this did not mean the Egyptian Army would march into Palestine. Egyptian troops probably would be stationed on the Palestine frontier. Azzam Pasha, secretary-general of the Arab League, has left Cairo for Amman for important talks tomorrow on the unification of the Arab forces’ high command. Arab forces were on Tiiesday' night reported to be moving towards Palestine’s land frontiers. Cairo dispatches said that mechanised units of the Egyptian Army were moving up to Palestine’s southern border, while from Baghdad it was stated that Iraqi forces, with planes, were going into Transjordan to concentrate on the eastern frontier. The Daily Telegraph’s correspondent in Cairo says that two trains crowded with soldiers left Cairo on Tuesday “for an unknown destination.” They were wearing khaki shorts and shirts, but had no badges. Egypt is also reported to De putting at the disposal of the Palestine Arabs her air force and coastguard vessels The ships, the correspondent says, are intended to blockade positions held by the Jews. Foreign shipping in me eastern Mediterranean, he adds, has been warned to remain outside southern Palestine’s territorial waters.