Moscow Radio Charges U.s., Britain Thwarted Discussion of Palestine Independence at U.N.

The United States and Britain were charged today by the Moscow radio with attempting to exert pressure during the recently concluded United Nations session on Palestine to prevent a discussion of the mandate’s independence.

The broadcast reiterated that a joint Arab-Jewish state was the best solution to the problem, but if that were not feasible, partition could be discussed. It accused “certain British quarters” of using the feud between the Jews and the Arabs for their own selfish aims, which has resulted in delaying the development of Palestine.

The Manchester Guardian’s Moscow correspondent, Alexander Werth, writes today that Gromyko’s statement at the U.N. aroused considerable interest in diplomatic quarters in the Soviet capital. He asserts the Gromyko proposals follow along the lines of certain Arab-sponsored plans, adding that diplomatic circles are surprised at the Russian sponsorship of partition, which the Arabs are known to oppose, since the Soviets are unlikely to support any plan to which the Arabs object.