The British Government, apparently without consulting the U. N, Palestine Conciliation Commission, has sent a memorandum to the Israeli Government urging the advisability of action by Israel to settle blocked Arab accounts held in Barclays Bank and the Ottoman Bank in Israel, it was reported here today.
The British memorandum was said to speak of four million pounds in blocked accounts, but the latest report of the Israeli Custodian of Enemy Property shows an overall total of about 2,500,000 pounds. Of this, some 750,000 pounds has been released, leaving an approximate balance of 1,750,000 pounds to be settled.
Foreign Office sources admitted that the British Government made this demarche to Israel without consulting the Palestine Conciliation Commission which negotiated the first agreement and which is presently discussing a further release of Arab funds with the Israelis. This sudden, independent intervention in matters already under discussion has caused both surprise and mystification here.
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