Evening star., 1948-02-24
US. Calls on Council TO Restore
Peace in Palestine but Denies
Power to Impose Partition Plan
America Ready to
Discuss Force to
Maintain Order
BY the Associated Press

LAKE SUCCESS, Feb. 24.-The
United States told the United
Nations Security Council that it
must act to restore peace in the
Holy Land, but declared that the
Council had no legal authority
to enforce political settle
ment"-partitioning of the Holy
Land.
Warren R. Austin, chief American
delegate, proposed that the five big
powers begin immediate talks with
Arabs and Jews in an effort to
settle the Palestine problem. At
the same time, the United States
pledged that its Palestine policy
will conform to and be in support
of United Nations action on PaleS-
tine"
The councils action" Mr.. Austin
said, 'is directed to keeping the
peace and not enforcing PARTITION '
Ready to Consult on Force.
MI. Austin declared the United
States was ready to enter into con-
situations on the creation Of an
international force to keep the
peace in the Holy Land if the Coun-
Gil decided such a course was nee
eSsary.
1t was not clear from his speech
Just what the nature OF the Big
Five consultations with the Jews
and Arabs would be, except that
they would be concerned with i'm
plementation of the General As
sembly's November 29 recommended
tions" for partition.
In the long awaited American
policy declaration, Mr.. Austin told
the Security Council the U. N. must
act to block any attempts to frus-
trate the General Assembly's rec
concentrations for partition) by the
threat or use of force"
Czech Calls for Force.
Mr.. Austin spoke as the Council
opened debate on special report OF
the U. N. Palestine Commission
calling for force to aid in partition
ing the Holy Land. He followed the
commission chairman, DR.. Karel
Lisicky of Czechoslovakia, who
warned that the commission could
not carry out its task without force.
AS the American delegate outlined
the American policy laid down by
Secretary of State Marshall, rep
resentatives of the Jewish Agency
for Palestine and of Lebanon and
Egypt-Arab countries who are not
members of the Council-sat at the
table. The Council chamber was
filled to capacity.
The audience included the five
members of the Palestine commits
sion. Among them was Senator
Vicente J. Francisco, Philippine
representative, who announced his
resignation from the commission
earlier in the day. The Arab Higher
Committee for Palestine also was
represented in the chamber.
Grave Responsibility Seen.
Gen. A. G. L. McNaughton of
Canada, Council president for Feb
ruary, warned the Council that it
was faced with a grave reSponSlpll-
ity and called on both Arabs and
Jews to refrain from infammatory
actions during the deliberations.
Mr.. Austin told the Council it
must separate the question of main
tanning peace in the Holy Land
from the question of enforcing the
partition plan. In the opinion of
the United States, he said, an in
ternational force could be used to
maintain peace but not to enforce
to political settlement.
while taking necessary measures
to maintain international peace" ?"
Mr.. Austin said, "the Security
Council should make every effort to
get an agreement on the basis of
the General Assembly recommended
(See PALESTINE, Page A-6D