Britain is apparently using its good offices here to bring about a rapprochement between Israel and the Arab League states in regard to the sore question of repatriation and compensation of the Arab refugees.
The fact that Britain is interceding as mediator in this problem became apparent late today when, quite abruptly, the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee adjourned until tomorrow morning without voting on a draft resolution fixing the budget and extending the life of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for the refugees.
Technically the adjournment came at the request of Michael S. Comay, of Israel, who asked for more time pending receipt of instructions from his government. Several delegates were apparently taken a back because the draft resolution had been before the committee for nearly two weeks an it was assumed that Mr. Comay would have had full instruction by this time. However, Britain’s P.M. Crosthwaite supported Mr. Comay’s request for postponement and implied he was speaking for all four sponsors of the resolution – Britain, France, United States and Turkey. The adjournment was then granted.
Immediately after the meeting ended, Mr. Comay went into closed session with the delegates of the sponsoring nations. It was understood that Britain was proposing an amendment to the resolution acceptable to Israel and at the same time placating the Arab states.
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