STRONG COMMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26783, 28 May 1948, Page 4

STRONG COMMENT

ARMS FOR PALESTINE MR HOLLAND EXPRESSES CONCERN Special to the Daily Times CHRISTCHURCH, May 27. “ I would say it is horrifying and unthinkable for the United Kingdom to be supplying arms to the Arabs and the United States to be considering lifting the embargo on the export of arms to the Jews,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, discussing Palestine at the annual meeting of the Canterbury division of the National Party yesterday. Mr Holland said that the greatest danger he could see in the present situation in Palestine was the rupture in relationships between the two countries. In his opinion the peace of the world depended on Britain and the United States arriving at a state of understanding. He expressed the hope that both countries might find some way of having prior consultation before arriving at decisions of such a nature. The position was further complicated now because South Africa, a British country, had decided to recognise the State of Israel.

“It seems that an Imperial conference at which some unanimity of action and understanding can be reached is urgent and vital,” said Mr Holland. It seemed to him specially important in view of the essential need for continuity of foreign policy, and because of the approaching elections in all British countries that the representatives of all major political parties should attend, so that if there was a change of government, the new government would have a clear idea of the position.