A joint Iraq-Pakistan effort to obtain Bagdad Pact backing for implementation of United Nations 1947 resolutions on Israel’s borders was launched at the opening session yesterday of the Bagdad Pact Council meeting here.
Former Iraq Premier Nuri as-Said devoted a quarter of his address to the problem asserting that it was “incumbent” on the pact member nations to “strive to solve the Palestine problem in accordance with United Nations resolutions which have been involved by all the Arab states as an indication of their sincere desire for peace in the Middle East.”
Thanking some Bagdad Pact members for bringing the issue to the attention of NATO, he charged that Israel had ignored the 1947-48 UN resolutions. He accused Israel of “expansionist, aggressive intentions which have created anxiety and insecurity in the Middle East and which have provided a convenient instrument for subversive activities,” a reference to Communist activities with the Arab refugees.
“This problem has been exploited by the Communists as a weapon of subversion,” he declared. “No consideration has been given from any source to providing an answer to this Communist challenge. The Communist task of penetration will become easier if Prime Minister Ben Gurion sable to carry out his plans to bring more Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, There will undoubtedly be a great number of indoctrinated Communists among them,” he asserted.
Premier Firoz Khan Noon of Pakistan supported the Iraq leader’s statement. “Unless the grave injustice done to the Palestine Arabs is rectified, peaceful conditions cannot be expected in the area, ” he said. He added that since Israel was created under UN resolutions, these should be “enforced in their entirety.”
He urged that the Arab refugees be permitted to “return home,” and that meantime the United Nations should take care of them. He suggested more United Nations Works and Relief Agency aid and continuation of the United Nations Emergency Force in the Gaza Strip until permanent peace was achieved, No other delegate discussed the issue.
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