Jewish Immigration Will Be Restricted Until Final British Withdrawal, U.N. Body Told

Jewish immigration into Palestine will continue to be restricted in the areas controlled by Britain during the transition period prior to final withdrawal, it was announced today at the Ad Hoc Committee on Palestine by British representative John Martin. “What will happen outside of these areas with regard to immigration would not be our affair,” he added.

Martin made this statement in reply to questions put to him by Arab delegates who sought clarification of the statement made yesterday by Sir Alexander Cadogan. The Arabs were particularly interested in establishing whether Britain’s agreement to eventually hand over authority in Palestine to the United Nations Commission implied recognition of the legal right of the General Assembly to appoint such a commission.

Replying to this question, Martin said that Cadogan’s statement was not intended to imply acceptance or rejection of the legal power of the Assembly. It simply meant, he said, that as the Mandatory lays down its authority, the U.N. Commission will pick it up.

The Arabs also wanted to know whether Britain as Mandatory justified the recommendation on boundaries of the partition sub-committee, which cuts 54 Arab villages in two sections with the boundaries separating the Arab homes from their fields. Martin replied that it would not be proper for the United Kingdom to answer any questions which might prejudice the U.N. decision on boundaries. He stressed, however, that the separation of the residential part of the villages from the land, with one section lying in the Arab state and the other in the Jewish state is likely to provoke disturbances. He added that the Jewish Agency took this situation into consideration and was ready to meet the requirements of the affected Arab villages in a fair manner.

PROPOSE THAT INTERNATIONAL STATUS OF JERUSALEM BE MADE PERMANENT

The Ad Hoc Committee adjourned until tomorrow morning following a brief discussion of the status of Jerusalem. The Swedish delegate proposed that the administration of Jerusalem be chosen by the U.N. governor not only from the residents of the city, but also from outsiders. Sweden also proposed that the special international regime for Jerusalem be permanent and that the proposed referendum to be conducted after ten years be limited to possible modifications of the existing regime, but not to its abolition.

The slow progress made by the Ad Hoc Committee today was due to the fact that the partition sub-committee, which is now revising its report in the light of Cadogan’s statement, was meeting with difficulties at its closed session, which began this afternoon. These emanated primarily from the attitude taken by Martin.

Members of the sub-committee were reported to have bluntly told Martin this morning that the British position “is not helpful” either with regard to termination of the Mandate or the progressive withdrawal of troops from Palestine. It was indicated that the sub-committee would be in a position to reach a better understanding with Britain if the British Government would only state definitely the date it intends to terminate the Mandate.

SUB-COMMITTEE MAKES SEVERAL ALTERATIONS TO MEET BRITISH OBJECTIONS

The sub-committee finally approved a number of changes in the original text of the report, subject to approval of the governments of some of the members of that body. The Soviet delegation is still awaiting instructions from Moscow with regard to Cadogan’s statement, and the American delegation has yet to make its attitude clear. Among the changes provisionally approved are the following:

1. The Mandate shall terminate as soon as possible, but in any case no later than August 1, 1948.

2. British armed forces shall be progressively withdrawn from Palestine, the withdrawal to be completed as soon as possible but in any case no later than August 1, 1948.

3. The Mandatory Power shall advise the U.N. Commission as far in advance as possible of its intentions to terminate the Mandate and evacuate each area.

Dr. Herbert Evatt of Australia, chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, today again drew the attention of the Committee to the fact that the Assembly has virtually completed its work, and that the Palestine question is the only one left on the agenda. He therefore insisted that the Ad Hoc Committee not adjourn until tomorrow, but reassemble this evening and start discussions on those sections of the partition and Arab reports which do not collide with the stand of the British Government as outlined yesterday by Cadogan.

Evatt pointed out that the Ad Hoc Committee can discuss the question of the recommended boundaries, the status of Jerusalem, and the issue raised in the Arab report of the legal right of the Assembly to send an administrative commission to Palestine. The majority of the Ad Hoc Committee members, however, felt that the partition sub-committee must be given a full opportunity to reach and bring in a revised report.

The partition sub-committee continued its deliberations during the afternoon and evening in the hope that the revised report would be ready for tomorrow’s session of the Ad Hoc Committee. However, doubt was expressed among the delegates that the report would reach the Assembly in time for a vote prior to its expected adjournment on Tuesday, especially if the Arab delegations filibuster at the Ad Hoc Committee.

JEWISH AGENCY HOPEFUL ASSEMBLY WILL ACT FAVORABLY BEFORE ADJOURNMENT

Spokesmen for the Jewish Agency, however, were hopeful despite the present complications. They expressed the belief that the question would come to a vote at the Assembly before it adjourns and that the necessary two-thirds majority would be secured.

Some members of the U.N. were of the opinion that the Assembly might adjourn without taking a vote, and hand over the entire Palestine issue to the Ad Hoc Committee, which could constitute itself a special Assembly with the same rights as the regular General Assembly.