The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-15
Abroad
BY ANNE O'HARE MCCORMICK
In The New York Times

| ASSclxlOly Ok1NOhSu 40SV A1kAH
Britain requested the United Nations to
take over the Palestine problem, the
Soviet Government expressed prefer
ence for a single federated state over
division into two states, but declared that
it would support partition If a solution on
federal lines proved impossible. Inc Soviet
delegate is expected to reaftlrm this view
when he announces the Russian position
today. If the forecasts are correct, ana
Moscow gives a qualified acceptance to
the majority recommendation as a sec
ond-best" settlement, the United States
and the Soviet Union will be In virtual
agreement on one explosive world issue,
and this agreement will make an Assem-
bly, recommendation for partition pracu-
cally certain.
The decision would be made, moreover,
at the present session.
But the prospect of a decision on the
form of a settlement lmmeolately gives IVES
actually to another question. How Will
the settlement be supplemented and en-
forced? 1t is evident that this worries
Washington. The American statement as
serts that responsibility for Palestine rests
on Great Britain until the United Nations
releases it from the mandate. During the
transition period we are willing to par
t~icipate with the United Nations, 1T says,
Gin meeting financial and economic PROB
lens and the problem of internal law and
order"
An Ominous Note
Thu recruitment for the purpose OF a
special international police force on a vol
untary basis is suggested. But as yet the
United Nations has not agreed on either
the constitution or the framework OF such
an enforcement agency, while several ma
tons, including the United States, have
made it clear that their national armies
cannot be counted on to serve in Pales-
tine. Yet the British are not only proposing
but preparing to get out. Their 1lrm IN
tention is to withdraw their forces IN a
matter of months-on a date they expect
to announce in the very near future.
Meantime consulates OF countries favor
ing partition lave been attacked and the
Arabs are reiterating their threats to fight
any attempt to enforce partition. what
these embittered states would or could DO
in the event is a big question mark. But
an ominous note crept into their reaction
yesterday, when an Egyptian feminist
leader challenged the Grand Rabbi to pro-
claim whether the Jewish community OF
Cairo. a large and important segment OF
the population, is for or against Alonlsm:
There has never been the possibility OF
a satisfactory solution of the Palestine
problem. Partition is not a good solutlon.
The border is an open wound IN lrelahu'
constantly irritating relations between nortn
and south. But nothing could be worse tnan
the continuation of the present turmoil IN
Tho Holv Land. The division is there; it
must be recognized and dealt with on
the basis of reality. That the judgment OF
the nations of the world is brought to
hear on it is proof that it must be settled
in the interests of the world, and assur-
ance that the settlement finally DECIDED
on has a universal sanction which gives
the two peoples concerned a protectlon
La-anl +bo;r conorafo and rreCOnC1l6Dlo
RIGHTS.
The Arabs are afraid of Zionist expan-
sion. and the Jews of Arab vengeance. But
after the boundary is fixed, Zionist ex-
pansion and Arab invasion Will both pc
acts of aggression. the United Nations is
bound to act on. Granting that nelther ao-
stract Justice nor the claims OF eltner
party is satisfied by the proposals OF the
majority or even the minority report; ootn
will certainly be more secure unoef a
u. N. settlement than they could be under
any. other except agreement between
themselves.
The Best Solution
Such an agreement would, OF course,
be incomparably the best solution. In the
present poisoned atmosphere it is next to
impossible. But now that the British are
really pulling out and Arab and Zlonlst
are left alone with a settlement imposed
by the rough justice of world OPINION tar
sighted men in both camps may lace tne
irreversible facts of their situation. the
two peoples are clamoring for lndepend-
ence. from one another and from the Brit
ish mandate; but what chance has either
of Independence save in an organization
established to maintain the independence
of small nations? If they defy and weak
en- that organization, they destroy about
their only hope of Independent life.
Arab and Zionist are left alone IN a
dangerous world. The Russians will take
a "~second-best'' solution to hasten the
departure of the British from Palestine.
In the United Nations Trusteeshlp Com
mittee they make no secret OF their desire
to break the control of the Western powers
in all colonial territories
United Nations enforcement OF its de-
| cision will mean that Palestine Will De
policed by an international army instead
of by the British. If this international force
is not quickly organized, it will mean IN
ternal clashes or a repetition at this vul-
nerable point of the pressure already
spreading from Iran and eastern Europe
into the Arab world When thew begin to
think soberly, will the Palestinian peoples
prefer these alternatives to modifying
their w ,attitudes-the Arabs to a Jew
ish settlement that all their protests and
lamentations cannot dissolve, the Jews to
the people with. whom they have passion
ately chosen to cast their lot? In the end
the only solution of their common prob
lem is the solution they work out them
selves.
/ Quotations