Today Debate on Palestine Opens in British Parliament; Mandate to End May 15

The British Government intends to relinquish the Palestine Mandate on May 15 next year, subject to negotiations with the United ###ons, Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech Jones announced in Commons today.

Opening a two-day discussion on Palestine, the Colonial Secretary said that government had not altered its decision to withdraw all its troops from Palestine by August 1. He stressed the fact that the British Government must retain ##vided control in Palestine “until the evacuation of the troops is well under ### He also emphasized that Britain wants the Jews and the Arabs, as well as the ###ted Nations, to realize the danger of the withdrawal of British forces.

Regretting the fact that the U.N. Implementation Commission will have inequate support in carrying out its tasks, Creech Jones assured Commons that ### will wind up its affairs in Palestine “in a fair and reasonable manner.” until the termination of the mandate, he said, the greatest efforts will be made prevent any attempt to create unrest. Such attempts, he added, will be handled impartially and firmly.”

COLONIAL SECRETARY WARNS AGAINST CONTINUATION OF “ILLEGAL” IMMIGRATION

Richard Crossman, left-wing Laborite, speaking after Creech-Jones, urged the government to notify the U.N. that partition cannot be carried out without the presence of at least a small symbolic U.N. force to deter Arab agression. He said that a U.N. police force was a perfectly practical proposal provided that it was supported by both the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Col. Oliver Stanley, Conservative, former Colonial Minister, endorsed the government’s refusal to implement partition, but said that it should facilitate the work of the U.N. Commission. He urged that evacuation of British forces be completed as soon as possible and warned against resort to arms. He expressed the hope that the day would come when Palestine would be united in the interests of the entire Middle East.