Soviet representative Andrei Gromyko today made clear at a meeting of the Big Powers on Palestine that he would categorically refuse to participate in direct talks on conciliation with the Jewish Agencyor the Palestine Arab Higher Committee.
Gromyko argued that all efforts to bring about Arab-Jewish conciliation have been exhausted. In addition, he pointed out, the Security Council eliminated conciliation from the U.S. resolution which turned over the Palestine issue to the big Four–to establish whether the present situation in Palestine constitutes a great to peace.
Gromyko’s point-blank statement widened the existing gap between the United States and the U.S.S.R, on implementation of the U.N. partition decision. The American delegation is still proceeding with its plans in the hope that Arab-Jewish conciliation may be possible.
British representative Sir Alexander Cadogan, appearing today at the meeting a behalf of the Mandatory Power, seemed to support the Soviet rather than the American view. In answering six questions put to him at the meeting, he indicated that Britain believes that no modification of the details of the partition plan would be acceptable to the Jews or the Arabs. Britain, he said considered all bridges between the Jews and Arabs destroyed when she brought the Palestine case to the United Nations.
BRITISH REPRESENTATIVE DOUBTS PARTITION CAN BE IMPLEMENTED PEACEFULLY
Sir Alexander also expressed doubt that partition can be implemented by peaceful means. He reiterated Britain’s determination not to change its time-table of evacuation from Palestine. He informed the Big Four that about 7,000 foreign Arabs have invaded Palestine. Two days ago, he said the figure was about 1,7000.
Fletcher Cooke, Palestine advisor to Sir Alexander, told the parley that on by 15 there will be no funds left in the Palestine treasury for the use of the U.N. Palestine Commission which is to take over the administration of the country. He revealed that, despite reports to the contrary, the Arab Legion has not yet been withdrawn and would not be withdrawn until April 15.
The meeting then formulated ten questions to the U.N. Palestine Commission requesting further clarification of several issues and adjourned till tomorrow. U.S. delegate Warren Austin asked many questions about the establishment of a Jewish militia, indicating that the American delegation is greatly interested in this problem.
U.S. DELEGATION DENIES AMERICA WANTS PALESTINE FEDERALIZATION
The American delegation at Lake Success today denied press reports that the United States is inclined to support a federalization scheme in Palestine instead of partition. “No hints of a change in the U.S, policy have been made by any U.S. spokesman because the policy has not been changed,” the statement said, “The policy retains as stated by Sen. Warren Austin in the Security Council on February 24 and subsequently.”
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver conferred with Sen. Austin prior to the opening of the meeting of the Big Powers. The substance of the conversation was not disclosed. Allowing the conference, Dr. Silver left for the headquarters of the Jewish Agency the report on his talk.
JEWISH AGENCY ISSUES STATEMENT REJECTING FEDERALIZATION AS COMPROMISE
A statement issued by the Jewish Agency expressed satisfaction with the American delegation’s denial. The Agency added: “The position of the Jewish Agency near Palestine on any proposal to alter the partition resolution was made perfectly clear by Dr. Silver and Mr. Shertok–spokesmen of the Agency–in their statement before the Security Council.
“The Partition plan was a compromise which the Jewish Agency accepted as the producible minimum. Beyond that it cannot go. It should be made clear that the term Federalization is a misnomer to conceal the true character of what is intended. It would in fact be an Arab state where Jewish immigration and territory would be sharply restricted and the Jewish sovereignty denied. The Jewish community would be a permanent minority at the mercy of the Arab majority. No such plan is acceptable to the Jewish Agency.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
