U.N. Palestine Committee Tours Hebrew University; Sandstroem Praises Institution

The members of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine today toured the Hebrew University and the University-Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus. Chairman Sandstroem paid high tribute to the University which “although connected with national aspirations and the land is elevated above the political struggle.”

Sandstroem’s speech was in reply to a welcoming address by Dr. Judah L. Magnes, president of the University. Dr. Magnes’ speech was non-political. He asserted that an “intellectual and cultural life in Palestine would now be unthinkable without the Hebrew University.” He reported that many Arabs use the University’s library which has one of the largest collections of Moslem literature in the world.

At a three-hour closed meeting later today the committee adopted a report by a sub-committee recommending oral hearings for the Jewish Agency, Vaad Leumi, Dr. Chaim Weizman, Agudas Israel, Ashkenazi Community, Palestine Communists, Histadruth, the Ihud Party and a J.W. Abileah, who was described as an individual favoring the union of Palestine and Transjordan under King Abdullah. Oral hearings will be public, unless those testifying specify otherwise.

It was reported, without confirmation, that the sub-committee also recommended that the extremist groups be heard on the basis that, although small, they represent considerable influence, and also because failure to hear them might result in their taking action which might hinder the committee’s work. The committee is also slated to discuss whether to hear the three Irgunists doomed for participation in the Acre jail delivery.

Palestine Arab Higher Committee’s rejection of Transjordanian King Abdullah’s appeal for ending the boycott of UNSCOP was reported here today by Arab sources. Vice-chairman Jamal Husseini said yesterday that “daily events since the committee has been here” prove that the Higher Committee’s decision to boycott it was “right.”