Evening star., 1947-09-26
Britain Decides to Quit Palestine
It U.N: Fails to Reach Settlement
Acceptable to Jews and Arabs
Colonial Secretur,
Declares Stund to
Assembly Group
(Tert OF Statement on Page Az
BY the Assoeioted Prszs


LAKE SUCCESS, Sept. 26.-
Britain announced today that
she had decided to end her 25-
year mandate rule over Palestine
If the United Nations failed to
find a settlement of the Holy
Land problem acceptable to both
Jews and Arabs.
Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech
Jones advised the General Assem-
bly's 55-nation Palestine Commit
tee. that the problem of enforcing
any unpopular settlement would
have to be handled by the U. N.
itself-and not Britain.
Mr.. Creech Jones also declared
that Britain was ready to surrender
her League of Nations mandate over
the strife-torn Holy Land regard
less of the nature of the Assembly's
final decisions.
Questions Declared Separate.
A British spokesman made it clear
that the question of terminating the
mandate and the question of with
drawing entirely from Palestine
were separate matters. He explained
that Britain would be willing to
continue in Palestine in a different
status after the mandate was ended
If Arab-Jewish agreement could be
reached. This could take the form
of United Nations trusteeship ad-
ministered by Britain in place of
the mandate.
1t was disclosed, meanwhile, that
Secretary of State Marshall con-
ferred this forenoon with Rabbi
Abba Hillel Silver, a leading spokes-
man for the Jewish Agency Execu-
tive for Palestine. Gen. Marshall
already had met Arab spokesmen
and heard their views on the Pales-
tine problem but the nature of their
talks has not been disclosed.
Mr.. Creech-Jones said his govern
ment had decided on an early with
drawal of British troops and the
British administration from Pales-
tine If no settlement was reached.
This was seen as virtual declara-
tiop that Britain would be ready to
pull out on fixed date, since there
appeared to be little chance of the
U. N. finding solution acceptable
to both Jews and Arabs.
Committee Hears Chairman.
At the conclusion of the British
declaration, the committee heard
Justice Emil sandstrom of Sweden,
chairman of the special United Ma
tions Palestine Inquiry Committee,
review the work the 11-nation body
did on its summery inquiry in the
Holy Land and Europe.
DR.. Herbert v. Evatt of Australia,
chairman of the 55-nation Palestine
Committee, then invited representa-
tives of the Jewish Agency for Pal
estine and the Arab Higher Com
mittee for Palestine to take places
at the table.
The Palestine Committee session
was adjourned at 1886 am. after
arrangements were made to hear
the main Arab policy statement at
II am. Monday and the Jewish
agency declaration Tuesday.
Not Committed to Report.
Mr.. Creech Jones did not commit
Britain definitely to the report of
the Assembly's committee of in
quiry, which recommended the Holy
Lands partition into Jewish and
Arab countries. He said, however:
Il cannot easily imagine circum-
stances in which we should wish to
prevent the application of settle
ment recommended by the Assem-
bly,"
The main problem, Mr.. Creech
Jones said. was enforcement of the
Assembly's recommendations. He
said the U. N. itself must handle
this problem.
His majesty's government are not
themselves prepared to undertake
the task of imposing a policy in
Palestine by force of arms" he con-
tinued.
Likewise, in considering any pro-
posal to the effect that his majesty's
government should participate with
others in the enforcement of a set
tlement, they must take into ac-
count both the inherent justice of
the settlement and the extent to
which force would be required to
give 1t effect"