Arabs In Dilemma As Result Of Britain's Request To Observe Truce In Holy Land

Wanganui Chronicle, 27 May 1948, Page 5

Arabs In Dilemma As Result Of Britain's Request To Observe Truce In Holy Land

Received 11 p.m. LONDON, May 26 Britain’s advice to the Arabs to accept the United Nations’ request to observe a truce in Palestine has placed the Arab nations in a dilemma. “The Times” special correspondent in Amman says ihe Arab League’s political committee now discussing the Security Council’s proposal for a Palestine truce are in a difficult position, especially in view of the British adviee to the Arabs to accept a cease fire on the grounds that, in the long run, it will be advantageous to them to accept, though it is not stated in what way it will be advantageous.

The Arabs’ attitude is clear. They want to refuse to recognise the Zionist State. The Arab armies have entered Palestine “to preserve the Arab character of Palestine

Public opinion in Arab countriesoverwhelmingly supports both this attitude and the measures taken to implement it. Whet, asks the league, will be the result of accepting a truce, and who will benefit? Will it not merely give the Zionists another badly needed breathing space? For there is no indication whatsoever that the Zionists will modify their position or undo what they have already done. The Arabs are being asked to make concessions to relax their pressure on the Zionists to make an armistice with the' State against whose existence they are fighting, and it seems to them that to accept a truce would be tantamount to recognition. The Arbs ask, is this a nebulous advantage that will accrue to them if they cease fighting? They are being asked to buy a pig in a poke, and do not see why they should- Yet, if they refuse a truce they will be accused of raising an obstacle to peace in the Holy Land. To the Arabs it seems most unfair, and it wiU be no surprise if the A’rab League insists that it be made quite clear that the acceptancmof a truce will not .prejudice either their present position, or their general policy. To put it bluntly, the Arab States have a minimum of faith in NU..O- Their experience has been that every recommendation of that organisation on Palestine has had the result, calculated or otherwise, of strengthening the Zionist position. The Arabs feel that upon their “yes” or "no” hangs the fate of Palestine and, equally, that the scales are weighted against them. They believe that they are being asked to give, with no assurance that they will receive, and especially they resent being put morally in the dock by what appears to them an unscrupulous manoeuvre. The Israel Government has informed the United Nations Security Council by cable that Israel must review the position caused by the council's 48-hour postponement of the ceasefire order, and would “in due course inform the council its decision under the new circumstances.” In Amman the Arab League's political committee is discussing the cease fire, and met twice yesterday. Afterwards they consulted with King Abdullah. The medtiing is being continued today. Meanwhile, a Transjordan Ministry Of Defence communique claims that 600 Jew* were killed in a 24-hour battle for Latrun on the vital Jerusa-lem-Tel Aviv highway, about 20 miles west of Jerusalem. It adds that the attacking Jewish force was completely eliminated, and "our casualties were trifling.” The communique says the Arabs' seized all the Jewish weapons, including rifles, machine-guns, Bren guns and mortars.

The Arab bombing of Jerusalem occurred after dusk yesterday. An Haganah communique says the planes flew at a great height. This is the first time the city has had an air raid. American correspondents in Jerusalem, in a joint dispatch, say a major Arab offensive on Jerusalem is expected before the extension of the truce deadline granted by the Security Council runs out. Jewish leaders believe the Arabs hope for an early capture of Jerusalem, because a major victory would strengthen their hands internally and externally, but the Jews themselves are confident Jerusalem will not fall. The Arab invasion of Jerusalem has produced a tremendous upsurge of Jewish animosity towards Britain, says the despatch. “It is no exaggeration to say the Jews of Jerusalem consider Britain their enemy more than the Arabs,” it continues. .“The Arab Legion is referred to scornfully as "Glubb's girls” in honour of Giubb Pasha Every Jew is certain Giubb is in the city personally directing the Arab onslaught, and nothing can con-

vince them otherwise. The. Jews frankly admit they hope the present situation will estrange Britain from the United States, whose recognition of Israel has enhanced her prestige immensely. It is doubtful whether even diplomatic recognition of Israel by Britain could erase the tremendous animosity towards the erstwhile mandatory power for at least one generation.

The United States yesterday protesed to Syria and Egypt against the bldckade of the Palestine coast, and stated that it cannot recognise that the blockade is valid.

The State Department announced that the United States had sent strongly worded Notes to Syria and Egypt, who recently proclaimed a blockade on behalf of the Arab States.

The State Department spokesman said the protest was based on traditional United States policy of opposing interference with maritime commerce, and not connected with the issue of the American arms embargo. The State Department also announced that Lebanon had agreed to release 41 Americans seized from the American ship Marine Carp, en route to Palestine, on condition that they returned direct to United States. Mr. Lowell Pinkerton, United States Minister in Lebanon, reported that he was consulting with the interned Americans about the Lebanese proposals.