FAR-REACHING EFFECT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26792, 8 June 1948, Page 5

FAR-REACHING EFFECT

CONFLICT IN PALESTINE KING ABDULLAH’S WARNING OF DANGERS' N.Z.P.A.—Copyright LONDON, June 6. “ This war can spread like wildfire until everybody is involved. America and Russia are both play-; ing a dangerous game for their own reasons,” said King Abduliali after he met Count Folke Bernadotte, the United Nations truce negotiator, at Amman to-day. “ This has become a problem affecting not only Palestine, but Asia and Africa,”’ he said. Count Bernadotte, who is discussing the truce proposals with the opposing sides, earlier had talks in Beirut with the Lebanese Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, the Syrian Prime Minister, and the Iraqi Foreign Minister. He then flew to Haifa for a discussion with Mr Moshe Shertok, Israel’s Foreign Minister, before proceeding to Amman. After meeting Count Bernadotte. Mr Shertock indicated that Count Bernadotte would soon give the Arabs and Jews his proposals for a Palestine truce. Mr Shertock added that he felt that Count Bernadotte’s proposals, if thought unacceptable, would not be considered final, and that the Jews would have the right to appeal to the United Nations. Early Cease-fire Expected The Amman correspondent of the British United Press says that an unconfirmed but reliable report says that the cease-fire will be ordered for noon G.M.T. to-morrow. Meanwhile, fighting continues throughout Palestine. A later despatch says that both the Associated Press and Reuter’s correspondents at Amman report that they have reliably learned that the date for the Palestine truce has been fixed for June 10. Reuter’s correspondent says the postponement from to-morrow, which had been earlier decided upon, is to enable Count Bernadotte to obtain clarification of some of the conditions, without which it is unlikely the Arabs would agree to the truce. The Associated Press correspondent says these conditions apply to immigration and the opening of the Jcrusalem-Tel-Aviv highway, A Lebanese Defence Ministry communique says that Lebanese and Syrian forces occupied the settlement of Malkiyeh, an important Haganah stronghold south of the Lebanese border. A Syrian communique claims the destruction of Jewish fortifications north and south of the Sea of Galilee with widespread air activity. In Cairo the Arab League announced that a substantial number of SaudiArabian troops, well equipped with tanks, armoured cars, heavy artillery, and light weapons, are now operating with the Egyptian Army in Palestine. The Saudi-Arabian Army has a limited number of light tanks obtained from the British some time ago. Tel-Aviv City Quiet The Tel-Aviv correspondent of the Associated Press, who recently arrived from Cairo, said it was hard for a newcomer to realise that Tel-Aviv is the headquarters of a people at war. There is no sense of disaster in the air. Tel-Aviv’s seafront looks like Brighton beach, streets filled with Sabbath promenaders. Hundreds watched from the beach yesterday as four small Egyptian ships exchanged shots with a Jewish corvette a few miles off shore. The Egyptian ships withdrew, then the crowds sauntered idly back to the pavement and the cafes. In a delayed despatch the Jerusalem correspondent of the Associated Press says the Holy City had its heaviest shelling yet yesterday morning from Arab artillery and mortar positions. Arab snipers operated along the whole west and north sectors. Shell-fire from Silwan village, on the Mount of Olives, caused a large number of casualties. Legion Troops in Old City Reuter's Jerusalem correspondent says that Arab Legion troops repulsed a Jewish attempt to break into the Old City last night. Arab gunners then shelled Jewishrheld modern Jerusalem. One shell struck the nave of St. George’s Anglican Cathedral. The British Consul-general protested to the Legion One American and two British correspondents were wounded in Allenby Square, Jerusalem, yesterday when one of them kicked a stone, which detonated a small Italian-made hand grenade lying in the rubble. The incident occurred during a two-hour cease fire arranged by the Red Cross to allow the transfer of 50 Arab refugees to the Old City.