Evening star., 1947-10-11
Johnson Refruins
From Commitment
On Use Of fanny
(Tert on Page A-2.)
ey the Assoeioted Press

LAKE SUCCESS, Oct. 1.-THE
United States today accepted in
principle a proposal for parti-
ton of Palestine into Jewish and
Arab nations.
This country also agreed to help
the United Nations preserve in
ternal law and order" during a rec
commended two-year transition
period.
On the question of providing mill
tary forces to guard against posi-
BILE attacks from the outside the
United States refrained from max
ing any commitments.
In long-awaited policy declara-
ton before the 57-nation Palestine
Committee of the General Assembly,
HerscheI v. Johnson, American dele
gate, also:
l. Endorsed in principle a ma
jority recommendation by the United
Nations Special Committee on Pal
estine (UNSCOP) for admission of
10000 Jewish immigrants into the
Holy Land during the interim period.
2. Declared in effect that Britain
was obligated to continue ruling
Palestine until the United Nations
undertakes "to assume responsible
ity.'
A spokesman for the American
delegation said that. in the opinion
of the American Government, Brit
ain was not free to carry out her
announced plans of withdrawing
from Palestine until the U. N. had
set up machinery to replace the
British administration.
No Reference to Arab Move.
Mr.. johnson made no direct
reference to the current Arab
League Councils move to send
troops to the borders of Palestine.
In outlining the part the United
States was ready to play in the i'm
fermentation of the partition plan,
Mr.. johnson said:
"The United States is willing to
participate in a United Nations
program to assist the parties in
volved in the establishment of a
workable political settlement in Pal
estine.
I'VE refer to assistance through
the problem of internal law and
order during the transition period.
The latter problem might require
the establishment of special con-
stabulary or police force recruited
\ on a volunteer basis by the United
Nations.
MY delegation believes that Ger
tain geographical notifications
should be made. For example, Jaffa
should be included in the Arab state
because it is predominantly an Arab
CITY,"
He then proposed that "all the
inhabitants of Palestine. regardless
of citizenship or place of residence,
be guaranteed access to ports and
to water and power facilities on a
nondiscriminatory basis; that con-
stitutional guarantees, including
guarantees regarding equal oppor-
tunity. be provided for Arabs and
Jews alike. and that the powers of
the Joint Economic Board be
strengthened.
Mandatory Now Responsible.
Turning to the question of imple-
menting the Assembly's decisions on
Palestine, Mr.. johnson said
THE General Assembly did not,
by admitting this item to its agenda,
undertake to assume responsibility
for the administration of Palestine
during the process of transition to
independence. Responsibility for
the government of Palestine now
rests with the mandatory power
"The General Assembly, however,
would not fully discharge its obliga-
ton if it did not take carefully into
account the problem of implementa-
ton"
The American delegation spokes-
man, explaining this passage, said
that while the U. N. was obliged to
consider the question of implement
ing its decisions, it might be many
months before any actual admin
istrative machinery could be ready
to function. For this reason, he
said, the United States wanted
Britain to remain in Palestine to
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