Jewish Agency Mum on U.S. Stand; “open City” Negotiations for Jerusalem Fail

The Jewish Agency today refused to comment on the attitude which the United States Government has taken at the Security Council with regard to the Palestine question. Agency leaders indicated that a statement is ?ow being prepared in New York which will be delivered at the Security Council meeting.

Meanwhile, the number of Jews killed and wounded mounted today as a result of Arab attacks on Jewish convoys. It was reported that about 100 trucks loaded with Arabs, armed with machineguns, mortars and explosives infiltrated across the Palestine border from Syria and Transjordan last night.

The situation in the Old City, where no food convoys arrived during the past week, continues to deteriorate. British military authorities have refused to accompany such, convoys until members of the Jewish defense forces will be removed from the old City.

Negotiations to proclaim the Old City of Jerusalem an “open city,” which have been going on for some time, have failed because of the Mufti’s refusal to enter into any negotiations until the Jews leave the quarter, it was reported here today. ?s a result, the British are attempting to remove all the Jews from the Old City. This attempt is meeting with opposition on the part of Jewish leaders, who claim that the British military authorities are indifferent to the lack of food in the Old city because they believe that this will speed the departure of the Jews.

Meanwhile, no Jewish burials can take place in Jerusalem as a result of yesterday’s blasting of the bridge leading to the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of lives. Sixty Jewish dead are now lying in hospital morgues, awaiting burial. A General procession with 29 dead, traveling under British escort to the Mount of lives early this morning, was fired on by Arabs. The police returned the fire, but ## casualties are reported.

14 JEWS 11 ARABS KILLED IN ATTACKS IN SCATTERED PARTS OF COUNTRY

At least l4 Jews and 11 Arabs were killed and 29 Jews wounded today in attacks in various parts of Palestine.

A band of 100 Arabs attacked a Jewish Settlement Police truck near Lubiya, ##st of Tiberias, killing two and wounding three policemen. A 30-nan Haganah patrol investigating the attack was surrounded by the same band, suffering one member killed ###d two wounded, while killing two Arabs. Police reinforcements later drove off the Arabs.

Another Jewish convoy proceeding from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was attacked by large Arab band in the vicinity of Babelwad. Three Jews were killed and 12 wounded. Haganah troops accompanying the convoy fought off the Arab attackers, although, they are outnumbered two to one, and led the Jews to Kiryath Anavim, where the convoy as put up by the settlers. The dead and wounded, however, were taken to Jerusalem. Police who arrived on the scene of the battle two tours after it ended said they could not find any trace of the attackers.