BRITAIN NOT WARNED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26773, 17 May 1948, Page 5

BRITAIN NOT WARNED

PRESIDENT TRUMAN’S DECISION Rec. 11 p.m. LONDON, May 15. The United States Government had not told the British Government beforehand of Mr Truman’s decision to grant de facto recognition to Israel, said a Foreign Office spokesman. Britain had not yet considered taking similar action.

The Arab League’s official spokesman said in Cairo that the United States decision would have no effect whatever on Arab plans. The Palestine question would be settled in Palestine. The speed with which the United States recognised the Jewish State is unlikely to be matched by a parallel move by Britain, according to Reuter's diplomatic correspondent, who says it is thought in London that the American recognition was designed to give the United States Government the greatest possible influence in attempts to mediate between the Jews and Arabs, and to prevent the conflict spreading beyond the Palestine borders. Another factor may have been an American desire to get one step ahead of any similar move by Russia aimed at giving the Soviet Government a predominant influence over Jewish policy. The correspondent added that it was considered likely that Britajn would wait until the new Jewish State proved its capacity to maintain itself and to fulfil international obligations before making a definite move about recognition.