MANDATE OVER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26772, 15 May 1948, Page 7

MANDATE OVER

Diplomatic Scene in London JERUSALEM CUT OFF FROM OUTSIDE WORLD l New Zealand Press Association—Reuter—Copyright Rec. 11.30 p.m. LONDON, May 14. With only a few hours before the end of the British mandate in Palestine the diplomatic situation in London is one of total confusion, says Reuter’s diplomatic correspondent. Only one thing is clear—Britain surrenders the mandate at the appointed hour and will concentrate on a speedy ' evacuation. Jerusalem was cut off from the outside world last night. Facilities for sending cables no longer exist and no direct communication has been received from Reuter’s Jerusalem correspondent for the past 24 hours. Arab Legion “Free to Fight Jews” Press Association reports from New York say that the Jewish Agency informed the United Nations Security Council last night that Britain had relinquished command of the powerful Transjordan Arab Legion, leaving it free to fight the Jews. The agency appealed to the council to take immediate steps to prevent an onslaught by the legion, which is the strongest Arab army in existence, and by Iraqi troops, which like the legion are under King Abdullah’s command. A Jewish Agency spokesman said the action was a glaring contradiction of the repeated British assurances that the legion would be withdrawn before the mandate was relinquished. He added that the legion had not only not been pulled out of the Holy Land but already was fighting the Jews at Kfar Etzion, south of Hebron. [Earlier reports said: “ It is authoritatively stated that Britain adheres to the intention to return to Transjordan before midnight to-morrow (May 14) those units of the Transjordan Arab Legion which have been serving in Palestine under British command.”] Meanwhile, the Secretary-general of the United Nations Organisation, Mr Trygve Lie, has received the following cablegram from King Abdullah, of Transjordan: “ We protest against Jewish armed organisations attacking Arab territory in the vicinity of Talkarm and the horrible aggression inflicted upon Beisan town. This actual provocation, if continued, will render the situation more complicated.” *