Attlee Denies U.s.-british Rift on Palestine; Asks Commons “indulgence” for Bevin

Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee today denied in Commons that a rift existed between the governments of Britain and the United States on the Palestine question. He also asked Commons to give Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin “its indulgence” for not making a statement on Palestine today in view of the United Nations Security Council’s efforts to arrange a cease-fire.

Attlee refused to answer a question by Communist William Gallacher whether in any discussions that take place the British Government would take no action that might be prejudicial to Israel. Under-secretary for Foreign Affairs Christopher Mayhew admitted that the Arabs were making use in Palestine of material supplied them over the years by Britain.

Meanwhile, the question of whether the Jewish detainees still on Cyprus should be classified as fighting personnel in the meaning of the U.N. truce resolution la at present under consideration by the Foreign Office, a spokesman said today, indicating the possibility of a stoppage of the transfer of the Jews to Israel.He said that the food blockade of Jerusalem would he considered a military action forbidden under the terms of the U.N. cease-fire, but he was not willing to so describe the maritime blockade of Palestine.