Evening star., 1948-03-06
III. ). and Russia Given
Main Roles in Talks on
Palestine Problem

ing the Palestine problem seemed
today to have been left mainly
to the United States and Russia.
After two weeks Of cautious de-
bate, the United Nations Security
Council late yesterday called on the
five major powers To And a method
of carrying out partition OF the Holy
Land into Jewish and Arab nations
recommended by the Assembly No
vember 20.
Britain announced Off the fiool
that she would not take part In the
consultations. China has abstaineo
from much OF the U. N. voting or
Palestine. France has been re-
luctant to take a stand.
This prompted the general view
that the future of the Holy Land
rested on the doorsteps of Washing
ton and Moscow.
First Meeting Monday.
The first big power meeting was
set for Monday morning in the New
York Offices of Soviet Delegate An
,drei A. Gromyko. A To-day limit
was put on the sessions.
Warren r. Austin. American dele
gate. Immediately dispatched his TOP
Palestine adviser, Dean Rusk, te
Washington for conferences. Mr.
Rusk was due back with any in
structions from Secretary Of State
Marshall in time to join Mr.. Austin
at the first session.
United States delegation confer
ences also were scheduled in New
York over the week end.
1t still was not clear whether Brit
ain would boycott the meetings en-
tirely or would refuse officially te
take part but send an observer. A
spokesman emphasized that his gov
ernment. as mandatory power IN
Palestine, was prepared to supply
any information requested.
The British stand was in line with
London's policy of not participating
in any move to enforce partition oi
any other solution not acceptable tx
both Jews and Arabs. The Araht
oppose partition; the zionists sup
port 1t.
The council struck . blow at par.
tition in yesterdays meeting by re-
fusing to adopt an American pro-
posal that it accept the u N. AS
sembly's partition decision. Tina
plan makes provision for the coun.
ell to find ways to carry out parti'
ton. The vote on the issue was
to o With six abstentions. Sever
affirmative votes were needed fol
passage.
Statements Soften Blow.
The blow was softened somewhat
however, by statements from som'
opposing delegates that they merely
believed the council should not tax.
such q step until the big powers hst
an opportunity to act. China. Brit.
ain, Syria, Canada. Colombia ,anc
Argentina were the nations refus.
ing to indorse the move.
Agreement WAS reached on tn.
big five section of the American
resolution only after the Unitee
States yielded on several points tt
Russia. Mr.. Austin said this wal
done In efforts ito establish har.
mony between the United States
and the Soviet Union" The con.
sultation proposal passed, to 0
with three abstentions. The Unitee
States. China, France and Russis
were among those voting for it.
One of the deleted sections pro-
vided that efforts should be mad,
in the consultations to mediat,
Jewish Arab differences. However
the American delegation was un.
derstood to feel that this idea still
could be salvaged through a libera
Interpretation of the accepted parts
Of the proposal.
Meanwhile, three members O
Congress. each with a differen
party label. called on the United
States yesterday to stiffen its at.
titude on partition.
Representative Isacson, new Amer.
ican Labor Party member from New
York City, urged in his first Hous,
speech that President Truman lif
the ban on shipments of arms tt
Palestine, and take steps to brin,
about full implementation" of tn,
United Nations decision.
Senator Morse. Oregon Republi
can, told his colleagues that 9Th,
State Department Is faltering" In 1T
support OF the q. N. decision, ant
should stop diplomatic double-tall
and double-dealing" ON the issue.
Senator Taylor Of Idaho. who wa
elected as o Democrat but who ha
agreed to be Henry Wallaces thir,
party running mate, introduced
resolution instructing United State
representatives on the u. N. Secu
rity Council to support all measure
] TO make the partition decision sfiee
i've.