The U.N. Palestine Commission today made Public its report on the Palestine security situation, several hours after submitting the document to the Security Council. The Council is expected to commence its discussion of the report “by the end of this week.
The report warns the Security Council that only the prompt establishment of ## “non-Palestinian” armed force can prevent serious trouble in Palestine and effectively implement the partition decision of the General Assembly. Such a force, the report says, would assist law-abiding elements in both the Arab and Jewish communities in maintaining an atmosphere of law and orders The report asks that the international force enter Palestine simultaneously with the Commission.
Only such a force can replace the British troops which are now the sole starrier to a complete deterioration of the situation to “open warfare,” the Commission continues. Any alternative would be “catastrophic,” it emphasizes, and would involve “bloodshed and human suffering.”
The Commission expresses the conviction that there is nothing it can do to implement the Assembly decision between now and the termination of the Mandate without meeting armed resistance. It warns grimly that “the period immediately following the termination of the Mandate will be a period of uncontrolled, widespread strife and bloodshed in Palestine, including the city of Jerusalem.”
IMPORTANCE OF ESTABLISHING ARMED MILITIA IS EMPHASIZED
The Commission stresses the importance of setting up an armed militia. But the most important observation it makes on this subject is that the militia cannot engage in border operations, thus indicating that one of the major functions of the proposed U.N. international force would be to guard the borders of the new states.
In demanding that the U.N. make available an international military force “in adequate strength” to back the Commission in its implementation work, the report says that “powerful Arab interests within and without Palestine are engaged in a deliberate effort to alter by force” the U.N. decision. It alludes to British non-cooperation and gives it as another reason for providing armed support for the Commission. It insists that the earliest arrival of the Commission in Palestine is necessary to the success of its mission.
The report goes into a detailed analysis of the effects of Arab violence in Palestine and lays great emphasis on the peril to the peace in Jerusalem. It also presents the problem of U.N. armed support for the Commission as the very core of the entire U.N. plan involving the Joint Economic Board and the boundary group. The total effect of the report is one of a possible complete collapse of all carefully evolved projects to bring forth two independent states unless law and order are restored.
The refusal of the Mandatory to permit the formation of a militia at once, the report says, will delay the implementation of the Assembly plan. At the same time, it points out bluntly that it would be futile to envisage an Arab militia under the present conditions.
U.N. COMMISSION WANTS ARMS EMBARGO LIFTED; INVITES BRITISH MINISTER
Following the issuance of its report, the Commission discussed the question of how to get nations to lift arms embargoes which are preventing the Jewish defense forces in Palestine from getting weapons. The five-member group decided to leave the setter open until after the Security Council acts on the recommendations contained in the security report.
The Commission extended an invitation to Arthur Creech-Jones, British Colonial Secretary, who is now in New York, to appear before the group if he desires. At the same time, the Commission received a letter from the British authorities saying that British subjects under contract as members of the Palestine police force may serve the Commission.
The Commission also received a letter from Acting Mayor Perelson of Tel Aviv protesting against the failure of the British to check Arab terror. The letter states that British inaction in the Tel Aviv area during 70 days of continuous sniping is taxing the patience of a bitter population and the restraining influence of the Jewish authorities.
NEXT ASSEMBLY SESSION TO BE HELD IN PARIS; WILL HEAR REPORT ON PALESTINE
Paris has been selected for the next regular session of the General Assembly, it was revealed here. This is the session which will hear the report on progress made to implement its partition decision, and possibly to consider the application of the Jewish state for U.N. membership.
The Trusteeship Council’s working committee on Jerusalem this morning unanimously approved its 15-page draft report to the Trusteeship Council, after agreeing to minor textual changes in the draft submitted by its rapporteur. The text, as finally adopted, is being prepared in document form and will be submitted to the next meeting of the Council on Wednesday.
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