Rabbi Asserts Arab Legion Paid For By British Government

Wanganui Chronicle, 25 May 1948, Page 5

Rabbi Asserts Arab Legion Paid For By British Government

Reed. 9.40 p.m. London, May 24. “The Arab Legion army investing the Holy City is paid for wholly by the British Government and commanded by British officers,” said the Chief Rabbi of Palestine, Dr. Isaac Herzog, in a telegram published in "The Times.” “This qrmy for the past week has bombarded Jerusalem with British guns and British shells, damaging or destroying churches, convents, synagogues, hospitals and monasteries. Let good men act before the Holy City and its shrines are turned into a shambles.” Britain welcomes the United Nations Security Council calling upon botti sides in Palestine to cease fire within 36 hours, says Reuter's diplomatic correspondent. Britain believes this will prevent the United States precipitately lifting the arms embargo in favour of the Jewish State. Such a United States decision would be regarded in London as a most serious threat to Ang’o-American relations. The Foreign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bevin, is authoritatively reported to have told the~llnited States Ambassador when thev met yesterday that it was vital that Britain and the United States should not drift apart on the Palestine issue. Britain’s immediate aim seems to be to build a new foundation for a truce, with Britain and the United States resolutely backing it. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, a representative organisation of British Jewry, appea'ed to tne British Government “to reverse its policy of supplying the Arab States with arms and money.” The board alleged that the Arab States were being used to resist the carrying out of the United Nations decisions favouring the partition of Palestine. “This policy,” it said, “in contradiction of all the noble ideals for which Britain has stood in the past, culminated in the attack upon the Holy City, led by British officers and fed by British money and arms.” The board hoped that Britain would recognise Israel and “complete the process begun by the Balfour Declaration.”