Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-05-23

OF presage the beginning Of World
the small Jewish and Arab forces
enced millions of Italian voters. We
announced, in cooperation with the
British and French governments.
that we wanted to return the free
territory of Trieste to its rightful
owners, the Italian people.
Masses of people, who do not think
in terms of diplomatic subtleties.
received our statement as definite
promise, although all the western
governments involved realized that
since the italian treaty was signed
by all the wartime Allies, the return
Of Trieste had to be approved by
Moscow and Belgrade.
Palestine Policy Uncertain
The electoral stratagem worked.
The Communist Party in Italy was
defeated at the polls. But nobody
in Washington quite knows what
will happen if payday comes and the
Communist members of the Rome
Parliament ask Premier Alcide dc
Gasperi how the Trieste promise
is developing"
Our policies in Palestine have been
the object of more uncertainty than
any other. 1t was regular shell
game. After making during the
war a variety of promises-both on
and off the record-to Zionist lead
ers in the United States, we en-
barked on what history will record
as the most inconsistent policy ever
pursued by great power. When
the shooting was ended in World
War II we assured the Jews OF our
support for the creation of a jew
ish national state in Palestine and
also informed Ibn Saud, ruler OF
oil-rich Saudi Arabia, that we would
live up to President Roosevelt's
promises to him that nothing would
be done in Palestine without keep
ing him informed.
In the United Nations, where this
question was referred, we pushed
for a Jewish state and then changed
our attitude, in accordance with the
desires of the particular executive
department which had the ear OF
the White House at the moment.
When those who watch the votes
had the presidential ear, our policy
was to contend for an Independent
Jewish state. When, however, the
White House was needing those who
are responsible for our national
defense, the administration switched
to the idea of a trusteeship on the
basis of frontier delimitations be-
tween the Arabs and Jews in Pales-
tine. This would have amounted to
another mandate which, instead OF
being assigned to a single nation,
was to be placed under the U. N.
Trusteeship Council.
Finally, when the Jewish author
tiles In Palestine decided to take
the initiative and proclaim the
State of Israel after the British
gave up their mandate. the White
House invited the Palestine Jewish
commissioner in Washington to ask
for immediate recognition of the
new state. This was accorded
within a few minutes after the
proclamation took effect, although
at that time there was not even a
government established at Tel Aviv.
Agreement May Be Reached
The creation Of the State OF
Israel has unleashed minor war
In the Middle East.
In some Jewish, American and
British diplomatic quarters 1t Is be-
lieved that some sort OF agreement
may be reached with the King OF
Trans Jordan whereby he would
desist from further attacks against
Israel. There are indications that
Abdullah may be induced to accept
some sort of compromise and the
presence of the wise Jewish leader.
DR.. Chain Weizman, at the head
of the new government seems to
lend credence to such speculation.
Economic and other heavy handi-
caps confront the new republic.
Large masses of hostile Arabs sur
round Israel. The Jews who have
emigrated to Palestine from all
parts of the world have widely di-
vergent standards of education and
living. Despite these, however,
there is a possibility that the jew
ish republic may survive, provided
that the U. s. S. r. does not take
advantage of the situation to add
fuel to the fire.
The Soviet collaborated with the
United States in the U. N. for the
creation of a sovereign home for the
Jews in Palestine. This was almost
the only instance of cooperation
since the war. But our intelligence
services are aware that some cir
reconcilable" elements from the
U. S. S. r. and satellite states have
worked their way among the refu-
gees who have entered and are en-
tering Israel with the view to pre-
venting any kind Of understanding
with the Arabs. These elements
have infiltrated for the most part
into the Stern Gang, which is on
a par with certain Maquis units in
France in which the Communists
were dominant.
Moscow Agents Busy
On the other hand, certain Mos
lens, particularly from the Mo-
hammedan areas Of Yugoslavia,
have been sent into the Arab states
TO encourage bitter-end resistance.
They are promising the Arab chiefs
that the U. s. s. r. will send armed