Evening star., 1947-11-03
Russia Rejects
u. 5. Proposals
On Palestine
Demands British End
Mandate by Jan. !,
Withdraw by May
BY fhe Associoted Press

LAKE SUCCESS, Nov. 3.-Rus-
sia today rejected American sug-
gestions on methods of partition
ing Palestine and instead de-
manded that the British enc
their mandate over the Holy
Land by next January l ano
withdraw all troops no later than
May /, 194S.
The Soviet Union -said there
should be a transition period of nc
longer than one year between the
termination of the mandate and
complete independence for the
projected Jewish and Arab states.
For this period Russia would
place responsibility for supervision
under the United Nations Security
Council.
Soviet Delegate Semen K. Tsarap-
kin delivered the long awaited pol
icy declaration in a closed meeting
of the Partition" Subcommittee
of the Assembly's 57-nation Com
mittee on Palestine.
Mandate Failure Charged.
He said the Soviet Union could
not ACCEPT the United States sug-
gestion that Britain be entrusted
with the task of administering the
Holy Land independence, because
the mandate has failed"
The American delegation had sug-
gested that independence for the
proposed two new countries shoulc
come by next July l, with the Brit
ish remaining until that time.
Mr.. Tsarapkin insisted Transition
period was necessary. He also turned
down the United States plan for &
three-man commission, declaring
that this group would have only
advisory powers.
Russia called for an 11-natior
commission operating directly under
the Security Council, with the same
countries represented. to handle thu
transition and direct the setting uI
of provisional councils of govern.
ment' in the two nations. Even.
tually elections would be held ant
permanent governments established
along democratic lines"
Armed Militia Mentioned.
The Soviet statement made NJ
mention of enforcement powers
other than to call for setting up O.
armed militia within the two coun'
tries as soon as possible.
The forces would be drawn from
among the citizens of the two coun
tries. and would maintain orde,
and prevent frontier clashes"
1t was specified, however, that tn,
local militia would be under tn.
control of the Security Council'
commission.
An authoritative source close tt
the six Arab delegations said tn,
committees nine-nation subcommit
tee assigned to study and report or
Arab proposals for making Pales.
tine an Independent Arab countr!
was nearly ready to offer its flna
case in opposition to the Unitee
States and Soviet supported plan fol
dividing the Holy Land into sep
arate Arab and Jewish countries.
The Arab bloc - Egypt, Syria
Lebanon. Iraq. Saudi Arabia ant
Yemen - vigorously opposes an!
form of partition and favors tn,
Transformation of Palestine from
the present British mandatory are;
into an independent Arab country
Jamal Husseini, deputy chairman
of the Arab Higher Committee fol
Palestine. voiced general Arab dis
satisfaction with partition las
month when he described the plar
as "a political monstrosity" agains
which the Arabs would shed 9Th,
last drop of our blood
Before midweek the subcommitte,
assigned to file a report on Arat
proposals will have completed it!
studies, one Arab spokesman said
Dr. Herbert v. Evatt of Australia
chairman of the full Palestine Com.
mittee, has announced that the
deadline for filing subcommittee
findings remains indefinite" II
originally had been set for October
%, but the burden of work carried
both sub-groups beyond their dead.
line.