The Arab Legion, crack British-trained Transjordan army, two-thirds of which is now under British command on garrison duty in Palestine, will remain there despite a British withdrawal order, King Abdullah told newspapermen today during the course of an interview at his winter residence here.
(Farnsworth Fowle, CBS correspondent in Palestine, quoted Abdullah as stating that his troops will remain in the Arab section of the country, if the United Nations approves partition.)
“We are deeply interested in Palestine,” he said, “we have rendered many services to the country, whose welfare we have at heart. Our army is in Palestine. When the British withdraw, our army will remain at the service of the people, relying on their support and cooperation.” The King continued by saying that Transjordan would not stand idly by if the United Nations decided to create an Arab State and a Jewish State and imposed on Palestine any other foreign occupation which might threaten Transjordan’s security.
Abdullah spoke bitterly about the Arab leadership exercised in Palestine during the last 28 years, describing it as a succession of errors. He followed up this obvious reference to the ex-Mufti by saying that he wanted the young men of Palestine to feel that “they can look to me for support in defense of Palestine.”
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