ARAB OPPOSITION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26703, 24 February 1948, Page 5

ARAB OPPOSITION

UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ENFORCEMENT OF PARTITION NEW YORK, Feb. 22. “As soon as the United Nations Commission enters Palestine in May, it is certain Arab restraint will snap," declared the British Colonial Secretary, Mr A. CreechJones, in a broadcast to-night. Mr Jones, who was explaining the British decision not to allow the commission to enter Palestine until a short time before laying down the mandate on May 15, added: “We must insist that our responsibility for law and order in such circumstances is restricted to as brief a period as possible." There would be no lack of willingness by Britain to assist the United Nations policy in every way short of actually implementing the partition plan. The difficulties arose not from Britain’s making, but from the hard realities of the present position in Palestine. Britain had paid a great

pride in Palestine through the last quarter of a century, and whatever her responsibility, it now rested upon other nations.

“ Since the , General Assembly’s decision we have suffered further heavy loss of life, and we cannot prolong our commitments in so thankless a task,” Mr Creech-Jones continued. “Britain has been traduced. She has been judged less than generously, but later generations will, I think, acknowledge the great work she has done. The British public cannot be asked to assume new liabilities in Palestine. It is the turn of others now to take an active part.” Mr Creech-Jones, after remarking that the commission had now become conscious that its work depended on the provision of adequate means to enforce the United Nations policy, added: “ Let no one imagine the situation is other than grim. British troops, acting with complete impartiality, have so far prevented open civil war, but elements on both sides have resorted to violence, and the normal services of the Administration are being maintained under conditions of the utmost difficulty. Whatever arms there may be in Palestine, each side wants more, and further additions would only make the conflagration worse.” The Jewish Agency for Palestine declared to-day, in a memorandum to the Security Council, that British policy in Palestine strengthens the Arab attack against partition, weakens Jewish defence, and seriously threatens peace and security. The agency charged' the Palestine Government with obstruction of the Palestine Commission. and said the Arabs were “ powerfully encouraged by tolerance and a relative impunity in which they have been able to operate.”