ARAB WORLD ROUSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26227, 10 August 1946, Page 7

ARAB WORLD ROUSED

DISCUSSIONS ON PALESTINE FEDERAL PUN REJECTED LONDON. Aug. 8. Ministers of seven Arab States are meting in Alexandria on August 12 to discuss the situation in Palestine, says the Associated Press Bagdad correspondent. An extraordinary meeting of the Arab League might be called later. Official quarters in Iraq express strong approval, of the Palestine partition plan, and declare that the proposed federation is “even worse.” In Jerusalem to-day, Jamal Husseini, vice-chairman of the Arab Higher Executive, had an interview with Sir Alan Cunningham, after which Sir Alan said Jamal Husseini told him that the Arab Executive could not participate in any conference based on partition or scheme for federation. He also raised the question of illegal immigration, and urged release of Arab political prisoners. Talk of Soviet Mediation

The Director of the Arab Office, Ahmed Shukairy, in a statement rejecting the Palestine federal plan, said discussions were proceeding on a high level for sending a delegation to the Soviet Union from the. Communist Party in Palestine, for which the Lebanon had given its support. He added: “ I think the Russians are better equipped to teach the world how racial and religious discrimination can be eradiReuter’s ■ Jerusalem correspondent reports that R.A.F. Lancaster and Halifax bombers are patrolling the Mediterranean 200 miles from Palestine, searching for ships bringing in

illegal immigrants. The bombers are reinforced by Spitfires, which have befen flying inshore patrols. It is reliably learned that 1,400 immigrants aboard five ships in Haifa harbour will be allowed ashore when the Athlit camp is enlarged to accommodate them. Russian Evasiveness Britain is making representations to Russia with a view to stopping the departure from Rumanian ports of ships carrying illegal immigrants to Palestine, says the Daily Telegraph. Similar representations have already been made on a number of occasions, and will continue to be conveyed to the Russian chairman of the Rumanian Control Council, so far without result. One reply, which may be taken as typical; was that the immigrants were not bound for Palestine, but Mexico, as all had valid Mexican visas.

The Grand Mufti has resumed the political direction of Palestine Arabs from Alexandria, says the Daily Teler graph’s Jerusalem correspondent. If the Palestine Arab delegation should go to London for discussions, the Grand Mufti will be the actual head, though he would not accompany it.