Sanctions To Halt Palestine Fighting?

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1948, Page 4

Sanctions To Halt Palestine Fighting?

PARIS, Thu. (10 a.m.). —Britain and China suggested to the Security Council which is considering the Egyptian complaint of alleged Jewish truce violations that it should consider the use of economic pressure to stop the Palestine fighting. In a joint resolution the two powers suggested the appointment of a committee consisting of the Big Five, with Belgium and Colombia, to report urgently on what measures should be taken under Article 41 of the Charter if the order to cease fire is not complied with.

Article 41 provides that the Security Council, to give effect to its decisions, ’ may employ such measures as the complete or partial interruption of eco- i nomic relations, and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraph, radio and other I means of communication, and the sev- j erance of diplomatic relations. The resolution also provides that the j acting mediator should fix a time limit j within which both Jews and Arabs ! should comply with his order to! withdraw to their positions before the breakdown of the truce. Sir Alexander Cadogan (Britain), presenting the resolution, said that if the Jews were left in possession of the positions they had taken in Negev how could the Security Council ever be expected to enforce its decision. A display of weakness would create a grave feeling of instability in Palestine and quickly lead to resumption of hostilities. CONDEMNED After Dr Tsiang (China) had supported the resolution, the Israeli delegate (Mr Aubrey Eban) condemned it, but declared that Israel was prepared to start negotiations for a peace settlement. “Transition from tenuous truce to a state of peace is an urgent necessity,” he said. “We believe peace negotiations will have a profoundly salutary effect. Riad es Solh (Lebanon) said he agreed with the Anglo-Chinese resolution. | Referring to Mr Eban’s offer of negotiations, he said: “We have heard Mr Eban say that the Negev has become an integral part of Israel. | “PREMATURE” “To say this is to admit the right of conquest or of force. “What is done by force can be undone by force. “If the United Nations does not give us satisfaction, we shall be entitled to re-examine the whole situation.”

Canada, Belgium and France supported the. resolution, but Russia's delegate, M. Jacob Malik, opposed it as being premature, and asked for postponement of the vote on it. He thought the acting mediator (Dr Bundle) should continue along the present lines. The council adjourned until tomorrow. OFFER TO EGYPT The Israeli Government has offered to meet the Egyptian Government, either directly or through the Palestins mediator, at any time to negotiate on all differences. This was officially announced in Tel Aviv today. Reuters Tel Aviv correspondent reports that Egyptian troops have evacuated Isdud, midway between Tel Aviv and Gaza, and have retreated southwards to Majdal, on the Southern Palestine coastal road.

According to an Israeli military spokesman, local Arab leaders in Isdud had approached the Israeli lines with white flags and asked the Israelis to enter and look after them. Israeli troops had now reached Hamama, two miles north of Majdal, without opposition. The Associated Press correspondent says the Egyptians are hemmed in tightly in a 10-mile-long strip of sanddune coast between Hamama and Hanun. The Israeli wedge has cut off the way to Gaza, five miles further south. FLARE UP Hostilities flared up on the Central Palestine front today and lively fighting spread to Jenon, said United Nations headquartei’s at Haifa. The spokesman said fighting was continuing and United Nations observers wei'e ti'ying to establish who. stalled the hostilities.