Evening star., 1947-01-02
Palestine Terror
May Force War,
British Fear
Military Operations
Held Alternative to
Immediate Solution
BY the Associated Press

ASAN1SlS, cdA1. ca SONCl IL
ment source said today Britain
was faced with the necessity of
finding an immediate, final So
luton in Palestine or conducting
a full-scale military operation to
maintain her mandatory position
in the Holy Land.
"Civilly, the situation is out of
hand" the source said. "And if
Irgun Zvai Leumi carries out its
threat broadcast yesterday to
launch a new offensive against
Britain's armed forces, it may be-
come necessary to proclaim martial
law in certain parts of the country"
Martial law would suspend courts
and civil administrations.
AS the informant outlined the
situation, Foreign Secretary Bevin
and Colonial Secretary Arthur
Creech Jones were believed to be
considering two possible solutions
to the Palestine problem.
First, and most favored, was
formulation of a partition plan
which would create independent
Jewish and Arab states and allow
Britain to exercise trusteeship con-
troll over certain sacred areas.
The second was for Britain, fail
ing successful partition, to seek an
international solution through the
United Nations. Strong support was
said to exist for this course among
some high Whitehall offieials-and
it has been suggested, too, by
winston Churchill.
Threats Always Carried Out.
Explaining why a "small-scale
war" might be necessary for Britain
to maintain herself in the Holy
Land, the government source said
in the past Irgun threats of terror
ism had always been carried out.
He added that it was impossible
to exaggerate the extent to which
feeling among troops in Palestine
was aroused by Sundays f1oggings of
four Britons. In many areas men
had to be confined to their bar
racks for fear they would carry out
their own reprisals.
Another incident may blow the
lid of Palestine and anything
might happen" the source stated.
Recourse to the United Nations
presumably would involve British
surrender of the Palestine mandate,
held for nearly "a years. The gov
ernment source said the Palestine
situation was seriously affecting the
stability of the entire Middle East.
He said everything possible would
be done to bring the Jewish Agency
into the London conference due to
be resumed January 81.
Desires to Protect Canal.
Informed diplomatic observers
said Britain's preference for parti-
ton was based on her desire to pro-
tect the security of the Suez Canal
and of oil pipelines which terminate
in Haifa.
The British cabinet was sum-
moned to its second meeting in three
days.
Matters appeared to have been
brought to a head by the failure of
efforts to bring Jewish representa-
tives to round table conferences with
Arab leaders here and by recent
developments in Palestine-which
have included the hogging of Brit
ish soldiers in retaliation for similar
punishment meted out to members
of the Jewish underground
An official British source said
yesterday that the government was
ready to give full and serious con-
sideration" to proposals to divide
Palestine into separate Jewish and
Arab states. The source added that
information had been received that
many Arab, leaders were willing to
listen to such plan.
Mr.. Jones was expected to sound out
David Ben-Gurion, chairman of the
Jewish Agency Executive, concern
ing his views on partition at a sched-
uled conference today.
The urgency which the govern
ment attaches to the Palestine situa-
ton was underlined by t;-a news that
Gen. Sir Alan Cunningham, high
commissioner for Palestine, will ar
rive here by air tomorrow to report
on affairs in the Holy Land. 1t. Gen.
Sir Evelyn Barker, British COM
mander in chief in Palestine also