Jewish Agency May Ask Britain and U.N. for Action to Prevent Arab Military Aggression

If the Arab states clearly indicate their intentions of marching on Palestine, the Jewish Agency may ask the Foreign and Colonial Offices what the British will do in such an eventuallty, it was reported here today. It is possible that the Zionists will ask both the British Government and the United Nations to take some action to prevent outside aggression against the Jewish sections of Palestine following British withdrawal.

In a statement issued this evening, the Agency office here expressed confidence that the U.N. will settle the “form of evacuation by Britain until a new administration is established,” and pointed out that the Arab states, which are members of the U.N., would be bound to abide by the decision. However, should the Arabs resort to force, the Jews in Palestine, as well in the rest of the world, will “use their natural right to defend themselves,” the statement added.

A Foreign Office spokesman said this afternoon that Britain’s decision to withdraw would not be affected by a reported Arab decision to send troops to Palestine’s frontiers. He added that the British Government had no knowledge of any such troops concentrations. He expressed the hope that Jews and Arabs would come to an agreement which would enable Britain to stay until it could hand over the administration to a duly constituted authority.

Queried concerning a statement by Azzam Pasha, secretary-general of the Arab League, to the effect that former British officers would serve with the Arab armies, the spokesman said that officers on the reserve list were prohibited from serving with foreign armies, but others could do so.

An authoritative source here said that the British-commanded Transjordan Arab Legion would be withdrawn from Palestine when Britain evacuates the country, since the unit is presently under British command on loan from King Abdullah, and comprises part of the British armed forces in Palestine.