Evening star., 1947-07-07
India u. N. Delegate
CLASHES With Jewish
Official al Inquiry
BY the Associated Press

JERUSALEM, July Sir Abdur
Rahman of India today accused
David Ben-Gurion, chairman OF
the Jewish Agency, of deliberately
evading questions" in a series of
sharp exchanges before the United
Nations special committee on Pal
estine.
Mr.. Ben -Gurion had asserted that
Jews in Palestine had mo conflict
with the Arabs" but rather that
international forces" were blocking
/ their efforts to regain" control OF
the country.
1t was after the Indian represen-
| tative on the u. N. committee
asked Mr.. -Gurion about the
possible need for force to apply
United Nations decision that Sir
| Abdur accused him of evasion.
IF you persist in these types OF
answers, we shall be here another
two months" Sor Abdur told Mr..
! Ben-Gurion.
Questioned on Undergrounder.
Justice Emil Sandstroem, chari-
man of the commission, posed ques-
tions about relations between the
Jewish Agency and the Hagana
underground organization and asked
| if Hagana was armed.
Il hope so," Mr.. Ben-Gurlon re-
piled.
He said relations between the
FJeWish Agency and Hagana were
the same as between the agency
and the Jewish people of Palestine"
Il do not know Hagana's strength,
but if you would like to meet them,
I'm sure they'll give you the In
| formation, he said. Il don't know
for certain, however, whether they
are legal organization"
Sir Abdus and Mr.. Ben-Gurion
again were in controversy when the
Indian declared there is no manda-
tory provision for a Jewish majority
in Palestine" Mr.. Ben-Gur1on dis
agreed, and the two began reading
to each other clauses and articles in
/ the mandate.
| Insists on Answers.
| "Wait a minute, wait a minute"
Mr.. Ben-Gurion told the Indian
delegate. Here is a clause that
settles the matter"
Sir Abdus questioned the authen-
ticity of the document to which Mr..
Ben Gurion referred, and the
Jewish leader hesitantly began to
answer:
well, I think :. :"
"All I want you to do is to
answer my question: Sir Abdus
interposed heatedly.
Soon afterwards when Jorg Gar
| cia Granados of Guatemala asked
Mr.. Ben -Gurion about the legality
of land laws restricting land sales
In the Holy Land, Mr.. Ben Gurion
offered to produce legal counsel to
answer.
1--WE are here to form our own
opinions and not to listen to
lawyers" Sir Abdus said. slamming
| the table.
Two years ago." Mr.. Ben-Gurion
asserted under questioning by Justice
| Sandstroem, "the Jewish Agency re-
| iected a British Labor Party sug-
gestion that the Arabs be encour-
aged to move out of Palestine to
make room for the Jews. We say no
Arabs should be moved. They would
deny us the right to live in our
home, but that is not conflict, be-
cause We do not deny them the
right to live here"
| Irrigation Plan Urged.
Mr.. Ben-Gurion told the commit
tee the Jewish Agency proposed a
Jewish state under u. N. super
vision for a period of time to allow
certain material phases Of work
/ to be done"
/ This" he said, includes irriga-
ton of both Jewish and Arab ter
ritory by the Jewish Agency with
Arabs helping if they choose, Tt
also entails resettlement of approx
mately 100000 Jews in Palestine
! in the next few years. When these
things are accomplished, tne OulCeu
Nations must declare an ihdepend-
ent state in Palestine that will have
majority of Jews. but in which
the Jews have no more privileges
than the others"
Apprised later to Mr.. Ben-Gurion's
remarks, Emile Ghoury, a member
of the Arab Higher Executive Com
mittee commented:
/ I'VE agree with Mr.. Ben-Gurion
that the British must leave Pal
estine. Then we shall ask Jews
to live with us. If they refuse, those
who wish to leave may do so and
those who stay may adapt them
selves to our government. 1t is up
/ to the Arabs to decide the fate of
Palestine"