Evening star., 1948-02-18
By Gornett D. Horner

oNS1 StAly Va opoOS tAol
indicated today that the United
States is considering modifica-
ton of the embargo against
shipment of arms from this
country to Palestine or neigh
boring Arab states.
At the same time, Gen. Marshall
told a news conference the United
States has just about decided what
position it will take on the Pales-
tine case in the United Nations Sc
curity Council. But he refused to
say what this country may favor.
The Palestine case is to come up
IN the Council Tuesday. The U. N
body will have to deal with such is
sues as these:
l. Whether an international po-
lice force should be sent to Pales-
tine.
2. Whether the decision that
Palestine should be divided in jew
ish and Arab states should stand.
No Change Made Yet.
Gen. Marshall told questioners
that there has been no change in
the embargo put on arms shipments
to the Middle East when Arab-Jew-
ish conflict over the partition de-
cision f1ared up recently.
Pressed as to whether any change
in the embargo is being considered,
however, he said that the whole
Palestine problem Is under constant
consideration.
There have been reports that
action regarding the embargo may
be guided by the Security Councils
decisions Any U. N. recommenda
ton that member nations should
help arm a Jewish militia in Pales-
tine obviously would have to be
considered.
Gen. Marshall was asked If he
agreed with a view expressed In
some quarters that failure OF the
u. N. to enforce the Palestine partl-
ton plan would mean the complete
failure of the organization.
He replied that he did not think
the U. N. could be killed off in a
single blow. but that he did believe
it's action in Palestine is OF vast i'm
portance to its future effectiveness
Free Austria Demanded.
Turning to European problems
Gen. Marshall served notice that
the United States will not agree te
any peace treaty. for Austria that
does not preserve Austria's economic
independence
Deputies of the Big Four For
eign Ministers meet in London mex
week in a renewed effort to SETTLE
the Austrian problem. They viii
consider Russian demands FOL
large scale economic concessions.
Gen. Marshall said this Govern
ment would be willing to go aheao
with negotiations SO long as there
is any prospect of reaching agree
ment. This, carried the implication
that he might instruct American
representatives to wind up the Lon
don Conference quickly If it ap-
peared that agreement covering
United States oblectives could not
be obtained from Russia.
He emphasized that it was the
American intention to try to nego-
tiate an agreement covering all
points in dispute. including terri
torial questions, as we'll as economic
issues. The United States position
is that Austria's boundaries should
be what they were in 1887, he said
In response to other questions,
Gen. Marshall said:
There is no basis for rumors that
a Russian emissary in Berlin re-
Gently put out peace feelers in a
meeting with an American repre-
sentative.
There is no foundation for a
Russian charge that the United
States and Britain had secret peace
negotiations with Germany in l942
His only information about re-
ported formation of Soviet puppet
government in Northern Korea is a
radio broadcast from the Russian
zone there quoted in press reports
this week. and he has found no way
at present to confirm the reports