Government of Australia and New Zealand Expected to Recognize Israel Within a Few Days

The Governments of Australia and New Zealand are expected to recognize Israel some “feline next week, it was learned here today.

An indication that British recognition of the Jewish state is still subject to the fulfillment of certain unnamed conditions was given here today “by a Foreign Office spokesman. Most political observers here do not expect that these reservations will actually lead to a postponement of recognition, which is considered most important in view of the imminence of the Israeli general elections. However, it is believed that the formal announcement of recognition would “be qualified in such a manner as to give Britain a perfect excuse for withdrawing recognition if the conditions were not met.

Reuters today reported that British recognition of Israel is “imminent and any delay in the announcement is purely on a day-to-day “basis.” The dispatch added that this view is held “by many Labor M.P.’s as well as by the Parliamentary opposition.

It is understood here that both Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee and Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin will participate in next Wednesday’s debate on the Palestine issue. Former Prime Minister Winston Churchill will open the debate for the Conservatives, while Sir Oliver Stanley, one-time Colonial Minister, will be the last Conservative speaker. Many Laborites have expressed disappointment that only one day will be devoted to the debate. A meeting of the Labor M.P.’s is tentatively scheduled for the same day.

RELEASE OF JEWS ON CYPRUS NOT A PRECEDENT FOR BRITISH ZONE OF GERMANY

The release of the Jewish visaless immigrants on Cyprus is not regarded, as setting a precedent in the case of Jews In the British zone of Germany, a Foreign Office spokesman stated. The ban on the emigration of Jews of military age from Germany to Israel remains in force, he said.

The Daily Mail today reported a “fleet of merchantmen loaded with war materials converging on Palestine.” British naval intelligence has charted 60 vessels on the high seas, the report added. The vessels come from Poland, the U.S. and Latin Africa, the Daily Mall declared. It also said that this information has been placed before the U.N.

The Manchester Guardian said that both sides of the House of Commons expect announcement of British recognition before Wednesday’s Parliamentary debate. It is thought likely, the newspaper added, that the United States will recognize Transjordanes “part of a general settlement in the Middle East.”

Members of the Cabinet expect that the opposition parties will support recognition, since they asked for such a move several weeks ago. Even opponents of recognition are expected to take a “more realistic” attitude, the Guardian said, but predicted that a bitter debate is expected nonetheless. It pointed out that since the debate is scheduled under a procedural rule, which does not require a formal party division of the House, it is likely that Bevin’s critics will express themselves freely.