Evening star., 1948-03-10
u. S.-Sovief Pact
On Holy Land Seems
To Be CrumbIinq
By me Asseeio,sd prs,s


LAKE SUCCESS, Mar. 1o.-Ihe
much-heralded United States
Russian agreemsnt On Palestine
partition appeared today to be
crumbling.
A battle Of words outside United
Nations chambers yesterday. spot
lighted their current differences
over the political future Of the Holy
Land. It was the sharpest split on
the issue between the two powers
since last November when they
pushed the partition plan through
the U. N. Assembly.
The core of the verbal tussle was
American insistence on bringing the
Arabs, bitter foes Of partition, into
United Nations consultations. So
far the Arabs have boycotted every
discussion of the partition plan.
The Jews accept the plan to create
Jewish and Arab nations by next
October j.
". D. O8ueQ kxC81t8ut.
Overtures to the Arabs have been
opposed by the Jews. Russia has
termed such overtures worthless In
view Of past failures at conciliation.
A high Soviet source told news
men yesterday the United States
appears to favor reopenillg the par
tition plan.
some persons seem to be hesitant
about carrying out the Assembly
decision" he said tartly.
Several hours later Warren r.
Austin, chief American delegate,
took the unusual diplomatic step
Of replying directly to the remarks
Of the spokesman. Presumably, Mr..
Austin's statement carried Wash
ington's approval.
"I regret that the Soviet spokes-
man has sought to prejudge the
issues before the process Of con-
sultation has gotten under way" Mr.
Austin said in . special statement
read to newsmen by an American
press officer. Adding that he was
surprised" that the Soviet delega-
ton would authorize such remarks,
Mr.. Austin said:
II can say that my government Is
interested in the facts and In o.
decision based upon them"
Cadogsn Answers Questions.
Mr.. Austin's comment came after
high American sources disclosed the
United States is making strong
efforts to persuade Arab officials
here and abroad to join in u. N.
talks. It was reported the repre-
sentations were being made through
top diplomatic channels with the
Arab nations in. the Middle East.
It was understood there had been
no acceptance from the Arabs 50
far.
Delegates Of the United States,
Russia, France and China spent an
hour in closed meeting firing ques-
tions at Sir Alexander Cadogan,
British delegate attending as rep
resentative Of the mandatory power
in Palestine. A summary Of the
proceedings given newsmen later by
q q. N. press offlcer revealed that
most Of the questions already have
been answered before the Assembly's
five-nation Palestine partition COM
mission. -,,,s.i
Sir Alexander agreed to review
the previous replies and, add any
new ones possible for presentation
to the four big powers late today.
The next meeting of the group,
which has only until Monday to
reach some decision, was set for
tomorrow morning in, New York.
After these private consultations,
the Security Council gets the prob
lem again.
One OF Sir Alexander's aides said
Britain would provide the delegates
with information and they could
decide themselves whether the Pal
estine situation constituted q threat
to international peace. This was
the first big power session attended
by Sir Alexander, and indications
were that he would not show up
Thursday. This was in keeping with
British policy Of refusing to discuss
the carrying out Of partition or any
other Palestine solution not accept
able to both Jews and Arabs.