Evening star., 1948-02-18
Showdown in Palestine

Uluiltiy tIldt IloGIllliS put dluleO 1oICc Cali
carry out the partition of the Holy Land
should end wishful thinking on this sub
ject. For it is all too clear that the time
for showdown in Palestine Is close at
hand.
1t was the end of November when the
General Assembly, with this Government
exerting pressure on member nations,
adopted its resolution recommending the
division of Palestine into Jewish and Arab
states. At that time, although the Arabs
had stated their intention to resist parti-
ton with force, it is improbable that many
people foresaw the condition which con-
fronts us today It was said, and widely
believed, that the Arabs were bluff1ng, that
in the last analysis they would not oppose
the moral force of the General Assemblys
appeal. 1t was also said, and many be-
lieved it, that in event of armed resistance
by the Arabs the Palestine Jews, through
Haganah, their militia organization, would
be capable of dealing with it.
Time demonstrated the fallacy of these
assumptions. Then agitation developed for
the modification by this Government of
its arms embargo so that weapons could
be shipped to the Jews to bolster their
fight against the Arabs. The contention
was that the Arabs could get arms and
the Jews could not. Therefore, it was
said, why not make arms available to the
Jews, thereby balancing the forces in Pal
estine? This was another dubious asSump-
ton, one that has been thoroughly blasted
by the report of the Palestine Commission.
A balancing of power, instead of afford
ing us an easy escape route, would almost
certainly lead to fighting on scale which
would compel Intervention.
The effect of these considerations, of
course, is not to supply an answer to the
problem. But a review of past errors
should serve to underscore the danger of
impulsive action and the overriding i'm
portance of taking further steps only after
the most careful deliberation.
1t is clear now that the United States
committed itself to partition without any
plan or program for its implementation.
To act in that fashion is always danger
Gus. 1t will be doubly so if we now
commit ourselves to the principle of the
use of armed force against the Arabs
without the fullest consideration of all the
factors involved and the probable conse-
quences of such course.
Most of these considerations should be
obvious. Some of those which lend sup
port to the appeal for forcible implement
tation of the General Assembly's recon-
mendation follow:
l. The right of the Jews to a national
home in Palestine. This, of course, is
controversial point but to those who be-
lieve in it, it is reason enough for action.
2. The prestige of the United Nations is
at stake. The argument here is that If
the Arabs are permitted to nullify with
force a recommendation supported by
two-thirds of the General Assembly, the
already shaky foundations of the U. N.
will be most seriously undermined. 1t
cannot be denied that there is substance
to this argument.
8. The opposition of the Arabs raises an
intolerable situation which will go from
bad to worse If nothing is done There
fore, we should act promptly and de-
cisively, through the U. N, to compel
acceptance of partition.
On the other side of the ledger one finds
COIlSlQGIdGiOllS SUCH dS GI1eSe.
/. The sending of United Nations force
to notwithstanding that the Security
Council would order that-probably would
mean war with the Arab world. The mill
tary committee of the Arab League has
said that if the United Nations sends
troops to Palestine they will be opposed
by force. We should assume that they
mean this, and we should decide whether
we are prepared to see such an undertak
ing through to a successful conclusion.
2. The Mediterranean and the Near and
Middle East are of vital strategic impor-
tance to the United States and the rest of
the western world In event of war with
Russia in the foreseeable future we would
have to have bases in that part of the
world. Hence, to what extent would our
national interests be jeopardized by in
curing the full hostility of the Arabs?
3. The oil in the Arab world is important
to us, and even more so to Europe. 1t has
become fashionable to jeer at any one who
mentions oil in this connection But the
oil is an important consideration never
theless. The Zionist leaders say that the
Arab need of dollars is so great that, come
what may, they would still sell their oil.
But this is merely another assumption,
and we should carefully consider its
validity.
4. What are the motives and intentions
of Soviet Russia in this situation? Russian
policy for centuries has aimed at penetra-
tion of the Mediterranean and Persian
Gulf areas. If a United Nations force
should be sent to Palestine would it include
Russian troops? On the other hand, if
nothing is done and disorders continue,
can Russia be expected to keep hands off
this coveted area almost on her borders? |
Obviously, from the standpoint of our own
national security, these are matters which |
should concern us deeply
At the present time there is no evidence
of disposition on the part of our Govern