Evening star., 1948-09-20
Truns-Jordun,
Iroq Oppose;
Split Is in Open
BY the Associated Press

AMMAN, dllo Jul udll, oCpt.
2O.-Over the strong protests of
Trans-Jordan and Iraq, the Arab
League announced formation to-
day of an Arab government for
Palestine.
Ahmed Hilmy Pasha, military
governor of the Arab-held section of
Jerusalem, was appointed prime
minister of the new government,
an official announcement here said,
despite a declaration from King
Abdullah of Trans-Jordan that such
government would amount to par
titioning Palestine.
The Arabs have fought against
partition ever since the beginning,
he said. King Abdullah refused to
permit formation of the govern
ment within the security zone of
the Trans-Jordan government, which
extends from the Egyptian king
dom's frontiers, to the frontiers of
Syria and Lebanon"
Called Arbitrary Act.
He added
Creation of such a government
is an arbitrary act without the con-
sent of the Palestinian people, a
thing I will not agree to and will
oppose"
Abdulah's declaration brought to
a head long-simmering differences
over the formation of an Arab gov
ernment for Palestine. Abdullah has
been pictured as seeing in such a
government an effort by the Mufti
of Jerusalem to carve out a base
of power for himself in Palestine.
Renewed shelling in the old city
of Jerusalem combined to make
this one of the tensest moments
since the truce began last July 1S.
Volunteer Army Pledged.
In Cairo Saturday, Abdel Rah-
man Azzam Pasha, secretary gen.
eral of the seven-national Arab
League, announced that every pos
sible material aid, including an
army of volunteers, would be
placed at the disposal of the new
government.
Abdullah, in a message to the
League today, called attention to
the fact that Hilmy Pasha advised
him the League had approved crea-
tion of the new government.
"Trans-Jordan's delegate has de-
MED this" the King said. I'm any
case, formation of such a govern
ment, in our opinion, would turn
back Palestine to the disturbed
situation prevailing before May Is
(the date of Britain's surrender of
the mandate and the United Nations
institution of partition). As the
Arab Legion Is now fighting alone
in Jerusalem, where hostilities are
still in force in spite of the truce.
and as this central front, including
Ramallah, is under the authority
of the Arab Legion and the situa-
ton is still confused, we cannot
allow any other hands to interfere
in the responsibility of our military
government, especially those who are
anxious to rule Palestine"
Declared Equal to Partition.
He said if the new government
actually comes into being and wins
United Nations recognition, this,
coupled with recognition by some
of the major powers of the Jewish
claims, would constitute partition.
(His idea is that all Palestine
should be united under Arab
rule)
In a message to Hilmy Pasha, he
added:
THE souls of Arab Legion SOL
diers killed during the struggle pro-
test at this spelling of the future of
the country they fought for"
He added that he recognized
Hilmy Pasha's loyalty to the Arab
cause ard that of Palestine, but
added that he wished another per-
son had been the cats paw in this
game"
Uniformed sources in Damascus
said Constituent Assembly for
new Arab state in Palestine
may be set up somewhere outside
the Holy Lands borders in the
next six days. Several leading
Ralestinian Arabs, they said, have
been called to Cairo to discuss
the proclamation OF such
state, which would amount to a
new Arab rival for Jewish
ISrael.)
Trans-Jordan's defense minister,
Fawzi Pasha, announced the ap-
pointment of 1t. Col. Abdulla Bey
Tell, a veteran of the Palestine
fighting, as acting military governor
(See PALESTINE, Page A-5)