UN Palestine Commission – Daily News Summary

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

DAILY NEWS SUMMARY – 19

19 FEBRUARY

Jerusalem, Feb. 19 – The Haganah radio announced tonight that a party of 28 United States citizens; members of a delegation of the United Jewish Appeal, had been ambushed as fired on by Arabs as they approached Haifa in two armored buses. There were no casualties.

Scattered incidents occurred throughout Palestine. Casualties reported by the police were 8 Arabs, 3 Jews, and 1 Armenian killed, and 3 Arabs and 4 Jews wounded. (NEW YORK TIMES)

Damascus, Feb. 18 – According to an Arab source, Monday’s attack by Arab volunteer forces against three Jewish colonies was carried out to forestall a Haganah attack panned against the village of Beisan. The informant raid that a concentration of 1,000 to 1,200 well-armed Jews was found in the colonies – about three times as many as normal. (NEW YORK TIMES)

London, Feb. 18 – Foreign Secretary Bevin re-affirmed in the House of Commons today that the British Government could not leave troops in Jerusalem to protect Holy Places after 1 August. His statement was in response to suggestions in Parliament and in response that Britain should draw a distinction between Palestine as a whole and Jerusalem, and should make an effort to protect the Holy City.

“This in now the United Nations responsibility and His Majesty’s Government cannot undertake it,” Mr. Bevin told questioners in the House. (NEW YORK TIMES)

Washington, Feb. 18 – Secretary of State Marshall said today at his press conference that the American position on the proposed creation of an international force to guarantee the partition of Palestine would be disclosed to the Security Council on Tuesday. He said that decisive action on the Palestine problem is of vast importance to the existence of the United Nations. (NY HERALD TRIBUNE)

New York, Feb. 18 – Appearing at a meeting marking the opening of the United Jewish Appeals, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and former Governor Herbert R. Lehman both urged the lifting of the embargo on arms for Jewish defense. (NY HERALD TRIBUNE)