Britain to Ask Security Council to Act on Arms Reaching Israel

The British delegation to the Security Council has been instructed to raise at “any appropriate occasion” the question of arms and war supplies allegedly reaching Israel in violation of the Council embargo on war supplies to the belligerents in the Palestine war, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Hector McNeil today told the House of Commons.

Replying to a query as to whether arms and men were reaching Israel, McNeil asserted that “information obtained from many sources leaves no doubt” that arms and fighting personnel are entering Palestine from abroad. However, he said that his information was not complete enough to make possible an authoritative statement as to the quantities of equipment going to the Jewish armed services. He added that from time to time the acting mediator has been informed of these violations of the Council embargo.

Asked to confirm or deny the charge that Czech rifles made by the Skoda works and Russian Yak fighter planes were being used by the Israelis, McNeil stated: “Our information leaves no doubt that aircraft have been supplied from that factory.” When another M.P. asked about British supplies reaching the Arabs, he insisted that Britain has obeyed the U.N. resolution and “we expect other members to do similarly.”

Reports in the London press reveal that King Abdullah of Trans Jordan visited Bethlehem and Hebron, accompanied by some members of his government and several Arab logion commanders. He was received with special honors by prominent Arab leaders of both towns and discussed with them the question of annexing the non-Israeli part of Palestine to Trans Jordan.

Abdullah is reported to have suggested that the Arabs of non-Israeli Palestine conduct a referendum to “show the world that the Palestine Arabs are Joining Trans Jordan under their own free will.”