U.N. Conciliation Commission Announces Two-week Adjournment of Lausanne Peace Parley

The United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine this week-end announced that it would adjourn the Arab-Israeli peace parley here from July 1 to July 18. The members of the Commission will remain here during tie recess, but the Israeli and four Arab delegations will return to their respective capitals for discussions and new instructions.

The Commission’s a official statement was as’ follows: “The Palestine Cone Illation Commission has decided after consultations with the Arab and Israeli delegations to hold Its next; meeting beginning July 18 at Lausanne. The Commission plans, however, to hold two separate meetings with the Arab and Israeli delegations before this short Interruption. Meanwhile, the committees created by the Commission will continue functioning on the basis of projects which have been submitted for consideration.”

The Commission met with the Arabs for three hours Saturday before issuing its statement. It is understood that the U.N. body plans to meet the Israelis next Tuesday for the last time prior to the “interruption” It will meet the Arabs from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Trans Jordan the next day. The purpose of these meetings will be to ask the delegates to get specific instructions from their governments on two main issues–refugees and territory.

ISRAEL, ARAB STATES ASKED FOR ?ORE SPECIFIC STANDS ON REFUSE ISSUE

“The Israelis will be asked to clarify their position in more specific terms en the subject of the refugees. The Arabs will be requested to state specifically how many Arabs each country la prepared to accept for resettlement. The Commission, it appears, has information from Washington and Tel ‘Aviv which indicates that the recent exchange of views between Israeli and United States representatives was designed to establish Israel’s definitive policy regarding the refugees.

Also unresolved is the major territorial problem. United States policy is still urging Israel to give territorial compensation for holding on to Western Galilee. The American view is that any territorial compensation is acceptable, but in order to appease the Arabs and the British, concessions in the Negev would be advisable. The latest Arab proposal made in this connection is held here to reflect the British view–and also the American–as to the final territorial settlement.

Arab atate8men argue that the road from EL Auja, on the Egyptian frontier, through Beersheba and Hebron is the traditional strategic link between Egypt and Transjordan and other Arab states. The Arabs propose that the Negev be partitioned, with to 2eersheba-El Auja road and the region east of it to be equally divided between Transjordan and Egypt. The region west of it (including the Gaza coastal strip, with several hundred thousand Arab residents and refugees) would go to Israel. Surrender of the Gaza strip to Israel has not yet been mentioned openly by the Arabs, but Egypt and Transjordan have been saying that they would gladly give up the strip if the Negev partition as proposed by them is accepted by Israel.

Raymond Hare, U.S. representative on the Commission, will return to Washington next Friday and it is not expected here that he will return to Lausanne. It is believed that President Truman will nominate a new representative for the Commission.