The U.N. General Assembly was asked today reaffirm its Palestine partition decision and proceed immediately with the creation of militia and the establishment of provisional Councils of Government in a resolution distributed this morning by the Australian delegation at this morning’s ?ession of the Political Committee.
At the sane time, French delegate Alexandre Parodi presented a resolution to the Committee emphasizing that “the maintenance of order and security in Jerusalem is a urgent matter,” He urged the Trusteeship Council to study and, through consultations with the Mandatory Power and the principal interested communities, take the necessary steps “to insure protection of the city and of its inhabitants.”
Parodi also made a special plea for the immediate cessation of fighting in Jerusalem by transferring to the Trusteeship Council — as a matter of the highest ?riority — the task of selecting a governor for the city and recruiting an interim police force. “Whatever regime the General Assembly may finally adopt, the recruiting of a police force is a binding necessity,” he said.
Dr. T.F. Tsiang, chairman of the Political Committee, said that while he was ?ot excluding the introduction of resolutions now, none would be voted on until the general debate was completed. This was taken as an indication that the American Resolution to have the Trusteeship Council consider the details of its Trusteeship Plan will not be put to a vote until the end of the general debate.
DR. SILVER SERVES NOTICE THAT A JEWISH STATE WILL BEGIN TO FUNCTION MAY 16
Addressing the Political Committee, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver served notice that no matter what the General Assembly may decide, the Jewish State will begin to function May 16. “Partition is a substantial reality in Palestine today,” he said. “The crux of the issue is not how to implement the Assembly resolution, but how to enjoin and prevent” the Arab States from “violating their Charter obligations and from defeating the will of this international tribunal.”
Dr. Silver urgently requested the British Government not to permit its arms and equipment to fall into the hands of the Arab invaders, and to ensure that the British-officered Arab Legion will not intervene in the struggle. “Having been un-willing to implement the decision of the United Nations, Britain should at least refrain from abetting, however indirectly, the tragic conflict,” he declared.
It is too late now for trusteeship, Dr. Silver asserted, adding that the people of Palestine want independence and “will have it.” The apparent receptiveness of some Arab spokesmen to the idea was a “purely tactical maneuver to defeat partition,” he said. If force would be needed to enforce trusteeship, admittedly not a final solution to the problem, “why should it not be used to enforce partition?” he asked.
Dr. Silver reaffirmed the Jewish Agency’s “unqualified rejection” of any trusteeship plan. He said that partition was already to a large extent a political and economic reality in Palestine, and gave some examples. It would be an almost impossible task, he declared, for an outside to establish a centralized authority or to obtain the allegiance of Arabs and Jews.
Any attempt to impose trusteeship, Dr. Silver said, would necessarily involve violent effort to suppress all forms of independent national life, “which the people will not relinquish without a struggle.” Was it the “purpose of the United Nations to deprive people of their freedom?” he asked.
The Czech, Yugoslav and Ukrainian delegates today lashed out at the trusteeship proposal and reaffirmed their governments’ support of partition as the only ?asible solution of the Palestine problem. The Brazilian and Yemenite representatives both suggested that the American plan deserved careful study, while the Brazilian added that an essential prerequisite for the success of the plan was agreement ?ong the powers directly responsible for its enforcement. The Greek, Argentinian and Pakistan representatives were non-committal on the trusteeship issue, but the Greek and Pakistan speakers opposed partition.
A British statement of great importance is expected tomorrow. It is predicted in U.H. circles that the United Kingdom speaker will indicate his government’s agreement to joining a three-power group to enforce trusteeship.
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