The British Government was accused today by U.N. Palestine Commission of hampering the establishment of a Jewish Provisional council of Government in Palestine by April 1, as provided by the partition decision the General Assembly.
In its second monthly report submitted today to the Security Council, the Palestine Commission charged that the position of the Mandatory Power “precludes any possibility” of fulfilling “by April 1 that part of the partition plan which provides for establishment of Provisional Councils of Government, although some preliminary steps ###ward the selection of a Provisional Council for the Jewish state have been taken by the Commission.
The Commission emphasized that as a result of the British attitude, the Jewish Council “will not be able to carry out its functions” prior to the termination of the Mandate on May 15. In stressing the impossibility of establishing the Council within the prescribed time limit, the Commission leaves the problem for further action the Security Council.
ESTABLISHMENT OF ECONOMIC UNION AFFECTED BY BRITISH DELAYING TACTICS
Although the U.N. resolution provides alternatively that if the Councils have not entered into an undertaking by April 1, the Commission shall put the undertaking into force, the Commission report stressed that “this is impracticable, in any case, ###wing to the policy of the Mandatory Power not to relinquish any authority prior to the termination of the Mandate.” (Other conclusions of the Commission, emphasizing that partition is impossible unless peace is restored in Palestine, were reported in yesterday’s issue of the J.T.A. Bulletin.)
COMMISSION CONSIDERING LOAN FOR FOOD STOCKPILING IN PALESTINE
The Commission is considering negotiating for an international loan to be used as a working capital fund for food stockpiling in Palestine during the period when it serves as United Nations administrator, the report disclosed. As a security pledge for the loan, the commission would offer the future revenues of the country.
The Commission reported that a serious food shortage, especially of bread cereals, oils and fats, will develop in Palestine after the termination of the Mandate, unless effective arrangements are made for additional imports within the next few weeks. The arrangements suggested thus far are inadequate, the report emphasized. Further plans are being considered the Commission added.
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.
