The Nome nugget., 1948-03-22
Prelude To Chaos
(By Dorothy Thompson)

(By Dorothy Thompson)
 BARELY TWO MONTHS from now-on May 15-a frghtful condition will exist in of the critical in the world Palestine. On that day the British will pull out, and thereafter there will be govern ment in Palestine That is definition of anarchy It has been said that the partition of Palestine is the first great 'test of the United Nations If so God help the U N
 For absolutely nothing has been done to prepare for the conclusion of the British mandate, which will in the midst of bitter communal strife. Two weeks be- fore it ends, the Palestine commisson-a Czech, Be- livian, Dane, Filipino and Panamanian-are to move into and take whose disorders have baffled and defeated the British.
 People ask Who will "enforce" the partition deci- sions of the commsson The prior question even to that is: Who will govern? Two Palestnes are envisaged-a lavish and Arab-but, at the tme the country is to remain economic unit temporarily under an homie board. Who will constitute this board? It is de- Signedy mixed Jewish and Arabian But the Arabs have given notice that they will not cooperate participate Then how will common services be administered? Who, for instance will take the railroads civilian aviation, postoffices, customs?
 Sxy-wo per cent of all native Palestine government StaffS Arab They have warned that when the Brit sh go they will quit Has the Palestine commission any staff to take over?
 Why the British insisting on pulling out within two weeks after the commission arrives? Unqueston- ably because being completely stymied of solution in their mnds they want to jump clear before all hell breaks loose
 Who going police Palestine? It all very we'll to say: Send U. N force. There isn't any. If any force
 
 But does any nation have the foggiest notion of what policing condition of anarchy means? Any force must out the instructions of government. Where will be the government? The five unfortunate fish-out-of water commissioners?
 It is impossible to fill administrative positions wholly with Jews Those now Arab will have to operate in Arab territory Would Jew like to be postmaster in Arab village? Or at the ticket office of an Arab depot? The truth is that the U. N. assembly, having passed resolution and appointed commission, has started something that neither it anybody else knows how to finish.
 The British have 900 to OOOO troops in Palestine and picked force of $500 men-almost all of whom speak Hebrew Arab both Britain an old imperial power accustomed to deal with dsorderly colonial s- uations and to train for the purpose Has anyone else such police?
 The native Palestnian police is mixed force. On May IS the latter alone will remain Who then, will guard Christians and Christian properties in the Holy City including sacred treasures, which enormous? The electricity of Palestine is supplied by private company largely Jewish-owned. Its main power station is in the north at the Syrian and TransJordan from tiers, wide open to attack and sabotage.
 In Jewish Paestne itself (wh officially 600 900 Jews and concevaby 100000, including the "egals) there 100000 Arabs-a mighty fifth column. Some Jewish colonies such those in the Hueh area islands in