Arab Plans For Invasion Are Said To Be Complete And All States Unified

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 May 1948, Page 5

Arab Plans For Invasion Are Said To Be Complete And All States Unified

(N.Z.P.A.— -Copyright.) Received 7.30 p.m. LONDON, May 3 Arab plans for the invasion of Palestine are complete, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” Amman correspondent. Arab Ministers and leaders, during a series of talks, have attained unity. The arrival of the Syrian Prime Minister (Jamil Mardem Bey) and a letter to King Abdullah of Transjordan from King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia, promising financial and military assistance, indicated the closure of two breaches m the Arab States’ unity. The Arab delegates' offer to the Jewish Agency of citizenship in a unified Palestine, with local autonomy in Jewish majority areas, is the Arabs’ final word. The Arabs do not expect acceptance, but they desire to record their readiness to preserve peace in Palestine. If the Jews reject the offer a full-scale war, involving the Arab States’ regular forces, is inevitable.

Bedouin tribesmen and other irregular forces will be brought under- unified command to cooperate with the regular forces. Transjordan w r ill be the centre of operations. An Egyptian general and his staff already have arrived at Amman for discussions. The Paelstine Government yesterday demanded a cease fire throughout Jerusalem from 4 p.m. local time, to permit truce negotiations. The Palestine Government announced that British forces would advance against any Arab or Jewish force attempting to occupy any area in Jerusalem beyond tbe territory respectively held at 4 p.m. local time, yesterday, A British United Press correspondent reports that the first of British reinforcements being rushed from Cyprus and Malta landed at Jaffa from two destroyers. They are Marine Commandos. The Associated Press Haifa corre-

spondent reports that a troopship landed 1000 British troops at Haifa. He adds that there is no indication from any British source that the arrival of reinforcements means an alteration of the British evacuation plan, which calls for a withdrawal by May 15, or immediately afterwards of all British forces into a security area ringing Haifa. From this area all troops and supplies are to be moved out by August 1. It is officially announced in Jerusalem that R.A.F. Typhoons, after a reconnaissance flight over northern Palestine, reported no sign of any large invading forces. Arab artillery last night bombarded two districts in which Haganah barracks are situated. British troops are reported to nave moved in and ordered the Arabs to cease fire. The Hagpah declared that the Jews had restored postal services in Jewish parts of Palestine. Special stamps have been issued, an inland mail delivery and a telegram service have resumed.