“non-fraternization” Order Lifted in Palestine; Arabs Reject Round-table Invitation

The ban against British troops fraternizing with Jews and patronizing Jewish businesses imposed by Gen. Sir Evelyn Barker, British commander in Palestine, following the King David blasting last month, was lifted today.

An official announcement by Lt. Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham, Palestine High Commissioner, revealed today that leaders of the Palestine Arab Higher Committee have rejected the British invitation for a round-table conference in London.

The announcement was issued following a visit to the High Commissioner by Jamal Husseini, acting chairman of the Arab Higher Committee, who just returned from Egypt where he conferred with members of the Arab League. The High Commissioner’s statement said that Husseini also raised the question of halting “illegal” Jewish immigration to Palestine and of releasing Arab political prisoners.

ARABS SEEK SOVIET SUPPORT ON PALESTINE ISSUE

A statement revealing that the Arabs in Palestine are seeking Soviet support in opposing Britain’s “federalization” plan was issued here today by Ahmed Shukeiri, director of the Arab Office in Jerusalem. He said that unofficial contact has already been established with Moscow, and that official contact would follow.

“The Arab world,” the statement said, “is looking eagerly for the stand Moscow will take on the Palestine issue. We regard Zionism as the acid test of the policy of the Soviet regime. The Zionist movement is a racial, capitalist movement to which Russian ideology is categorically opposed.”

Reports from Cairo indicate that informed sources there consider Britain’s threats to turn the Palestine Mandate over to the United Nations, thus giving Russia a voice in deciding its fate, a “feint” aimed at forcing the U.S. to agree to British plans in Palestine. These circles point to the fact that Britain will soon withdraw all its troops from Egypt and has been counting on using Palestine as its chief Middle East base.