UN Palestine Commission – Situation in Haifa – Letter from United Kingdom

26 April 1948

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication Received from United Kingdom Delegation Concerning Haifa Situation

The following communication, containing information on the situation in Haifa, has been received from Mr. Fletcher-Cooke of the United Kingdom Delegation.

UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Empire State Building

New York 1, N.Y.

My dear Bunche,

In continuation of my letter of the 23rd April, the following additional Information was included in the Third Report on the Situation in Haifa just received from Jerusalem:-

(1) On the morning of the 25th April, the situation in Haifa Town was described as very much quieter and it was reported that normal life was being resumed.

(2) General Headquarters reported that some military stores trains 'ere still being operated by the military.

(3) The Haifa workshops were still operating.

(4) It was also reported that attempts to secure a truce had failed and that the Arabs had decided to evacuate the Town.

2. The following information contained in the Fourth Report on the Situation in Haifa has just been received:-

(1) On the afternoon of the 25th April, the situation in Haifa Town was reported to be quiet.

(2) During the night of April 23rd/24th there was practically no shooting in the Town though a small skirmish occurred in a village outside Haifa where British troops intervened and restored order.

(3) The Arabs, especially in the poorer quarters, were continuing to evacuate but the general exodus had almost ceased.

(4) It was estimated that some five thousand persons in all had evacuated the Town.

Yours sincerely,

s/ (J. Fletcher-Cooke)

Dr. Ralph J. Bunche,

Principal Secretary to the United Nations

Commission on Palestine,

United Nations, Lake Success.