Unwise To Rush Palestine Decision

Northern Advocate, 24 November 1947, Page 5

Unwise To Rush Palestine Decision

N.Z. Voice At UNO

NEW YORK, Sun.—The New Zealand delegate, Sir Carl Berendsen, today urged the Palestine Committee of the United Nations not to try to rush a decision. He said the New Zealand Government had instructed him not to vote for the partition plan unless it provided for a way to put it into effect. “These proposals of the partition sub-committee,” said Sir Carl, “ignore the problems of implementation to a deplorable extent. Is. this committee prepared to gamble on peaceful implementation—to gamble with the lives of thousands?”

Sir Carl added: “The mandatory power cannot, during t\e transition period, with any degree of justice, be charged with the sole responsibility for implementation. “If the United Nations assumes the responsibility of deciding on partition, then it must assume responsibility- for implementation. “There must be means of enforcement, which must be provided by every member of the United Nations according to its means. EMPOWERMENT MEASURES “However, the sub-committee fails to provide effective measures of enforcement, without which there is no prospect of success. “I emphasise the extreme unwisdom of trying, under pressure of time, to settle a matter of such grave importance.

“Let the Assembly remain in session or, alternatively, let the Palestine Committee be authorised in* due time to constitute itself as a special Assembly.” Mr Herschel Johnson (United States) appealed for the committee’s approval of partition by as large a majority as possible. He criticised the British delegates for what Y\e called “desultory assistance” in the sub-Committee stage. Mr John Martin (Britain) said the British had tried to be as helpful as they could. v- - Britain was not invited to take part in the discussion on implementation by the working group. BRITISH LIVES AT STAKE The delegations should declare that they were prepared to take the great risk which would arise from the fact that there was no force to compel acceptance of the plan. “If there is fighting in Palestine,” Mr Martin added, “the lives lost will be British lives. If there, are to be any widows they will be in Britain — not in those countries represented here.”

Mr Johnson withdrew his criticism' of the British delegates. He said they had been as helpful as possible, but Britain’s declared policy had not been entirely helpful, and had made the task more difficult.

“The plan makes the Security Council responsible for security elements,” Mr Johnson added. “Certainly, if a situation arises under Chapters 6 and 7 of the Charter, my Government will perform its duty in carrying out the Security Council’s decisions.”

[Chapter 7 calls for the possible use of armed force to implement decisions.] SERIOUS WARNING

The chairman (Dr Evatt) said the question had been studied thoroughly, but conciliation on the views of Arabs and Jews appeared to be impossible at present.

Reuters correspondent at Lake Success says it is still impossible accurately to forecast the vote on partition. The appeal by Sir Carl Berendsen, who carries great authority with the delegations, was a serious warning to many not to try to rush through a decision on Palestine for the sake of catching their sailing reservations on Wednesday.

The Arab members also created a strong impression with their plea that, before any plans could be discussd, the Assembly should be certain that it had the right to partition Palestine. Several delegations, particularly those from Europe, are seeking new instructions from their Governments on that point.