The British Government today advised U.N. Secretary-General Trygve Lie that it could take no action on the plea of the U.N. inquiry committee on behalf of the three Irgunists sentenced to death for participation in the Acre jail delivery.
In a note submitted to Mr. Lie by Sir Alexander Cadogan, permanent British representative at the U.N., the government pointed out that the death sentences have not yet been confirmed and said that if they are confirmed, the High Commissioner may grant a pardon. It stressed, however, that “it is the invariable practice of the United Kingdom Government not to interfere with the High Commissioner’s discretion.”
The British communication added that “His Majesty’s Government interprets this resolution (the General Assembly plea for a truce) as applying to action calculated to disturb the peace of Palestine. They cannot admit its relevance to the normal process of the administration of justice there.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
