Fighting Continues in Southern Palestine; U.S. Representatives Confer in Tel Aviv

A sporadic exchange of fire continues on the southern front between Israeli and Egyptian troops, it was officially announced here today. The communique also said that elsewhere in Palestine the situation was quiet. Yesterday, however, several truce treating incidents were reported from the vicinity of Lajjun, where Fawziel Kaukuji’s irregulars are operating.

John McDonald, U.S. consular general in Jerusalem, arrived here from Rhodes today, where he was conferring with U.N. mediator Count Folke Bernadotte, in the company of James G, McDonald, special U.S. representative to Israel. They immediately I went into conference with officials of the Foreign Office, It is understood that McDonald spoke not only as a representative of the Jerusalem truce commission but also for the U.S. Government.

SHERTOK EXPLAINS TO BERNADOTTE WHY ARAB REFUGEES NOT PERMITTED TO RETURN

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok sent a letter to Bernadotte explaining once again the Jews’ objections to the readmission of Arab refugees who fled Israeli-held territory. He refused to make any special concessions for the 70,000 Arabs who fled Jaffa and the 40,000 who left Haifa.

He pointed out that the presence of these tens of thousands of Arabs would give the invading armies a new advantage against the Jews Adding that the Arabs have agreed to continue the truce on what amounts to a day-to-day basis, with Arab spokesmen constantly threatening a renewal of hostilities, Shertok insisted that only after a final peace settlement is made will the former Arab residents of Israeli territory “be permitted to return.

It was confirmed today in official circles that a refugee vessel with 1,777 an and women immigrants arrived in Haifa Friday night. The passengers included a number of men of military age who were registered by U.N. observers and given cards informing them that they are not permitted to join the Israeli army. They will be visited at the Palestine addressees they have given to guard against their “disappearance.”

GOLDIE MEIRSON TO LEAVE FOR MOSCOW IN A FORTNIGHT

Goldie Meirson, Minister-designate to the Soviet Union, revealed at a press conference today that she will leave for Moscow within a fortnight, when Soviet Minister Pavel I. Yershov is expected here. She asserted that she will do everything possible to improve the good relations between the two nations which the U.S.S.R.’s attitude at the U.N. has fostered, Mrs. Meirson also revealed that she made her first official contact with the government to which she is accredited at a conference with Andrei Gromyko at Lake Success.

Speaking of her recent visit to the United States, Mrs. Meirson praised the “valuable efforts” of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and other U.J.A. leaders in the U.S. She also spoke enthusiastically of the devotion of the youthful American Jewish generation for Israel.

An official communique declared that the government has established that a bomb which exploded in Cairo recently and which was blamed on “Jewish air bombing” was actually the work of the fanatic Moslem Brotherhood. The bomb, which was set off on the ground, damaged a considerable amount of Jewish property.

It was reported here that a lawyer representing the Iraq Petroleum Corporation, operators of the Haifa pipeline, and of the Consolidated Refineries, also of Haifa, has arrived from Cyprus in Haifa to discuss with the Israeli Government measure “for the protection of the interests of his clients.”

A record of intensive constructive planning and accomplishment during the war months was revealed here this week-end with the announcement that since the proclamation of the state of Israel sixteen new colonies have been founded in various parts of the country, The settlements, comprising 3,750 acres, are situated on Jewish National Fund land, on property of former German colonies and at training centers.