Truce Fails in Palestine, United Press, San Francisco Chronicle, May 6, 1948.

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Abdullah announced at Amman, his capital, that he intended to enter Palestine with the Trans-Jordan and Iraq armies when the British mandate ends at midnight May 14 “whether the Arab League accepts an armistice or not.”

By the United Press

JERUSALEM, May 5-A desperate attempt to arrange a truce in Palestine and head off a bloody Jewish-Arab war has failed, reports here and in Amman, Trans-Jordan, indicated tonight.

A three-man consular committee returned here from a conference at Jericho, however, with hope that a “truce of God” might be arranged for Jerusalem itself, under the International Red Cross.

It was disclosed the committee had discussed with Arab leaders proposals for a truce for all Palestine. Reliable informants said no progress was made.

One reason for the failure, apparently, was the determination of King Abdullah of Trans-Jordan to make it a fight to a finish with the Jews.

Abdullah announced at Amman, his capital, that he intended to enter Palestine with the Trans-Jordan and Iraq armies when the British mandate ends at midnight May 14 “whether the Arab League accepts an armistice or not.”

WAR DEVELOPS

The war already was developing in Northern Palestine between Arabs and the Jewish Haganah militia.

Arab sources in Beirut, Lebanon, reported tonight that the Haganah militiamen had won an important victory by taking the key town of Safad, between the Lebanon border and the Sea of Galilee.

A truce imposed by the British army in Jerusalem was broken today when Arabs bombarded the Katamon suburb.

There seemed a good chance that the British-imposed truce might soon be succeeded by an agreed one.

Informants said the suggested basis for a Jerusalem truce was that the British would keep peace until midnight May 14, when their mandate expires, and that afterward the International Red Cross would assume control under a “truce of God.”

Talks on a truce for all Palestine bogged down when the Jews insisted on unlimited immigration and the Arabs demanded sovereignty over the country, it was reported.

ABDULLAH ADAMANT

Abdullah’s announcement in Amman declared he has “decided to enter Palestine after May 15 with an Iraqi army even if the Arab League decides to accept armistice proposals.” “I refuse to accept them,” Abdullah said. “The moment the British abandon their mandate my armies will go immediately.”

Abdullah spoke before leaving for Mafrak to inspect his troops.

Earlier reports said Abdullah had rejected proposals for a 10-day truce in Palestine after May 15 to enable the United Nations to work out a last-moment solution.