Evening star., 1948-02-29

or comparable legislation that posi-.
tive action by this Government
would result in greater willingness
by other countries to accept pro-
portionate shares of the displaced
population, development that
would be appealing to both Jews
and non-Jews.
With this particular element Of
pressure in the Palestine problem
either removed or tempered, pros
poets for a peaceable compromise
on this troublesome question will be
correspondingly brighter. That there
are possibilities and grounds for
compromise is acknowledged pri-
vately by the less extreme advo-
Gates on both Jewish and Arab
sides although publicly both seem
more presently inclined to hold their
ground at least until the Security
Council deliberations are more ad-
vanced.
Actually, in view of the COMPOSE
ton of the Security Council, the
requirement to compromise may not
be as pressing upon the Arabs as
upon the zionists. BY the United
Nations Charter it is required that
decisions of the Council must have
an Affirmative vote OF 7 out of the II
members. AS it happens, only 8 of
the 1.-THE United States, Soviet
Russia, France, Canada, Ukraine
and Belgium-supported the parti-
ton principle in voting for the Gem
eral Assembly resolution on Novem-
Der 80. Among the other Council
members Syria opposed the parti-
ton resolution while the United
Kingdom, China. Argentina and Co
lombia abstained.
Restraint Is Urged
Not only have these latter hve in
dieated clearly they are unlikely to
any Council action which
might tend to implement even in
the partition plan, there
has been speculation that either
France or Belgium would be unwill-
ing to commit themselves in further
support.
Encouraged by their own interpre-
tations of Ambassador Austin's
before the Security Coun-
Gil last week, it Is known that Arab
advisers here have dispatched ur-
gent recommendations to the Middle
East against any initiative in fur
ther violence by Arab forces. Their
feeling, in short, is that the pen-
dulum OF events is swinging back
from the Zionist high point of last
November 40 when partition of Pal
estine was recommended by the
United Nations General Assembly
and that no future grounds for a
Council finding of threat to inter-
peace should be traceable
to the Arabs.
There have been indications, too,
that some Of these more moderate
advisers would recommend Arab
to compromise. Two pos
sible grounds are mentioned.
One would be still a partition in
effect but would be on a more logi-
,al geographic basis than the pro-
posed division, namely, that Jew
sh state be set up in the coastal
area of Tel Aviv, where the majority
If Palestine Jews already are con-
,entrated. The boundaries OF such
\ state would be guaranteed and
acknowledged by the Arab nations
md the remainder of Palestine
would become an independent Arab
state, perhaps with Jewish minor
ty just as already exists in virtu-
lily every other Middle East coun-
ry.
P Prosperity in Peace
A second would be a United Ma
ions trusteeship, during which the
of a local Palestine
government could be created and
trained to take over the country
In this case it Is likely
that the Arabs would insist upon q
immigration during the
period. This alternative
does, however, pose an interim
policing problem in which the Rus
slams might claim share OF par
a development desired by
neither Arabs, Jews nor the western
Reason for an Arab willingness to
compromise is not too difficult to
The Middle East gov
ernments have become aware in
recent years of the potentialities OF
their natural resources and the di-
rection in which they can achieve
economic prosperity. A
state Of conflict or open warfare
would destroy these opportunities.
Saudi Arabia, for example, needs
friendly relations with
the United States in order TO per-
NIT development of Arabian oil
and from that the development OF
,he country's transport, communica-
lions, irrigation and other require
ments. Egypt, faced with an ex-
panding population and constrict-
ing agricultural economy, needs
western aid in industrialization.
Iraq, Syria and the Lebanon like
wise foresee better days If there Is
peace.
As for willingness for compromise
from the other side, the Zionist
and the Jewish Agency
n Palestine represent only mi
1ority, although a highly organized