ZIONIST HOPES RAISED BY U.N.O.: MORE MIGRANTS

Grey River Argus, 20 May 1947, Page 3

ZIONIST HOPES RAISED BY U.N.O.: MORE MIGRANTS

JERUSALEM, May IS. The British Navy intercepted an illegal immigrant ship, the Trade Wind, of 1200 tens, off Lebanon and lescorted her to Haifa. She had aboard 'l5OO illegal immigrants, who came from Yugoslavia, Poland. Germany, Hungary and Rumania. They later transhipped, without incident,' ready to sail for Cyprus. Six American, and three non-American members of the crew of the ship were arrested. LONDON, May 17. “The Times” Jerusalem correspondent says: Jews in Palestine have now seriously begun preparations foi. the arrival of the United Nations Fact Finding Committee, who, theybelieve, will approach the Palestine problem fairly and realistically. The Arabs are reserving their attitude. In addition to satisfaction of the Jews at the Fact Finding Visiting Committee’s composition, and the terms of reference, the Jews also profess to see new encouragement in the official Soviet attitude, pro Maimed by M. Gromyko. It is now thought the Soviet representative carefully avoided filling in difficult gaps between a general statement and principles. In speaking of a binational independent State for instance, he refrained from- saying who should be in the majority. If he meant that the Arabs'should remain the majority, as now, then his words are entirely unacceptable to the Jews. Part of the British satisfaction, however, comes also from the fact that Russia no longer is* entirely an unknown quantity, and the prospect of an agreement among major Powers over Palestine is not quite so nebulous, as it seemed.

Meantime, a question arises as to whethere the conditions in Palestine will alter much. The principal factor namely the pressure from immipration is not likely to disappear. Ships are still expected to arrive, since the most authoritative judges believe that some ships will leave European ports in spite of British efforts. Their departure, the other immediate local question, is whether the terrorists will heed the voice of the United Nations on keeping peace in Palestine. Hopes of this are bound to be restrained, for the terrorists and extremists may not heed the moderate Jews, but, despite this week’s outrages, an impression prevails that the security situation is easier than it was, and that life is flowing slightly mom normally.