By April 17, 2008 Read More →

Appeal to U.N., Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle.

UN Partition PlanBy the Associated Press

LAKE SUCCESS, March 19-The United States urged the United Nations today to abandon the Palestine partition program.

The U. S. called instead for a United Nations trusteeship as soon as possible to prevent chaos in the Holy Land.

It was understood here that the move was made on direct orders from President Truman and his Cabinet.

It was a back-down from the American position on the partition plan which was put through the 1947 U. N. Assembly under joint American-Russian leadership last November 29.

The U. S. also asked the U. N. Security Council to recommend a special session of the General Assembly to set up the trusteeship. It hopes for this session early in April.

A high U. N. administrative official declared. “This means the end of partition.”

The U. S. proposed the Security Council instruct the U. N. Palestine Partition Commission to stop trying to carry out the Assembly plan. A small advance party of the Partition Commission already is in Palestine.

The Jewish Agency for Palestine attacked the surprise shirt in U. S. policy as an “amazing reversal.” The agency said the Jews of Palestine would resist trusteeship by force.

LONDON COMMENT

The first reaction from London was a comment by a high British source that the U. S. move might change Britain’s determination to get out of Palestine finally by August 1.

A storm of protest arose from many members of Congress in Washington. Only a few endorsed the Administration’s new plans for Palestine.

U. N. delegates generally would not comment pending a study of the American plan, disclosed in full to the Security Council by Warren R. Austin, chief American delegate to the U. N.

Austin’s speech was received in silence by the Council.

Austin first tipped his hand at a secret meeting of the five big powers in which he gave a general outline of his proposals.

RUSSIA AND BRITAIN

In statements before the Council, and in the secret big power meeting, Russia and Britain said they would have to get instructions from their governments.

France and China indicated their governments would go along with the American trusteeship plan.

The Security Council adjourned its Palestine debate until next Wednesday at 10-30 a. m. without action on the American proposals. The Council must decide whether it wants to call for a special session.

Andrei A. Gromyko, Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister who has been demanding that the U. N. carry out the partition decision, said the U. S. proposals were a “striking contradiction” to the Assembly plan.

Austin told the Council there seems to be general agreement that the 1947 Assembly’s program to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab countries by next October 1, and tie them together in an economic union, could not be carried out by peaceful means.

He said it is clear also that the Security Council is not prepared to go ahead with efforts to carry out the project in the existing situation. He contended chaos and heavy fighting will result when the British terminate the mandate.

PEACE AT STAKE’

“The United Nations cannot permit such a result,” Austin said. “The loss of life in the Holy Land must be brought to an immediate end. The maintenance of international peace is at stake.”

Austin said the U. S. agrees fully with the other big powers that the Security Council must take action by all means available to stop the violence and restore peace in Palestine.

In the big power meeting, U. N. Secretary General Trygve Lic reminded Austin that UNSCOP last summer discussed the question of trusteeship but it was not pressed since UNSCOP decided both the Jews and Arabs would fight it.

As secretary-general, Lie said, he felt he had to ask whether the big powers, if they accept the American proposals, are prepared to accept the responsibility for trusteeship and see that it is carried through.

Austin replied-

“I can answer that question. The United States is ready, of course, to back up a United Nations decision.”

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