ABDULLAH’S ROLE SN PALESTINE VITAL TO BRITAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22819, 14 December 1948, Page 5

ABDULLAH’S ROLE SN PALESTINE VITAL TO BRITAIN

LONDON, Doc. 13.

The meeting of the Transjordan Parliament to be held tomorrow to consider the Palestine Arab Congress resolution calling on King Abdullah to proclaim himself King of Arab Palestine will have repercussions through the Middle East, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. Whether the Parliament actually proclaims King Abdullah's authority over the whole or part of Palestine or only

endorses the Cabinent decision approving the resolution, opinion in both Cairo and Tel Aviv will be outraged. An additional complication for the British Middle East policy is that this question should have come to the fore at a time when, under the obligations of the 1948 Anglo-Transjordan alliance, Britain may be involved in defending Transjordan territory. There can be no doubt that further violations of territory by Jewish forces at Akabar or elsewhere will require the dispatch of British troops. It has suddenly struck the British public that the nightmare of British military commitments in connection with Palestine may, after all, not be at an end.

Christmas Pilgrimage To Jerusalem

LONDON, Dec. 12

It is reported that the Jewish and Arab military commanders in Jerusalem agreed to open the road to Bethlehem, enabling Christians to make the Christmas Eve pilgrimage to Christ’s birth-place, says Reuter’s correspondent in Tel Aviv. The road is partly controlled by Jews and partly by Arabs. It is understood that the Jews agreed to buses being driven from Jerusalem to Bethlehem by Christians.

RUSSIAN & CZECH PLANES & GUNS SENT TO ISRAEL

(11 a.m.)

LONDON, Dec. 13

“There is no doubt that arms and fighting men have been flowing to the Israeli forces from abroad," said Mr. Hector McNeil, Minister of State, answering a question in the House of Commons

He said the Government had reports of these movements from many quarters.

“This information does not make possible an authoritative numerical assessment of the increase in strength of the Jewish land and air forces," he said. "In the air force, however, the increase has been substantial.” Mr. E. A. Lcgge-Bourke (Conservative) asked: “Is it not a fact that Skoda rifles and Yak fighters are being used in Palestine?

Mr. McNeil replied: “Our information leads us to have no doubt that the aircraft have been supplied from that factory.”