UN Palestine Commission – Movements of Arab Legion – Letter from United Kingdom

---

24 March 1948

UNITED NATIONS PALESTINE COMMISSION

Communication Received From United Kingdom

Delegation Concerning Movements of Arab Legion

The following communication, concerning the recent transfer of units of the Arab Legion into the Hebron area from Transjordan, has been received from Mr. Fletcher-Cooke of the United Kingdom Delegation.

---

C

O

P

Y

UNITED KINGDOM DELEGATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Empire State Building

New York 1, New York

23rd March, 1948

My dear Bunche,

You may have seen reports in the New York press to the effect that several units of the Arab Legion have recently moved into the Hebron area from Transjordan as a result of orders received from the Arab League.

2. I have been in communication with Jerusalem on this point and have received the following information: –

(i) Elements of the Arab Legion serving in Palestine under British command have recently been posted to the Hebron area.

(ii) This is part of the general re-deployment of forces under the command of the General Officer Commanding and in conformity with his policy of, as far as possible, posting elements of the Arab Legion serving under his command to Arab areas.

(iii) It is thus not correct that units of the Arab Legion now in the Hebron area moved in from Transjordan as a result of orders from the Arab League.

3. This information has been given to the Jewish Agency representatives in New York in reply to an enquiry received from them.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed)

(J. Fletcher-Cooke)

Dr. Ralph J. Bunche,

Principal Secretary to the United Nations

Commission on Palestine,

United Nations,

Lake Success.