23 DECEMBER 1949, Page 17

The Future of Jerusalem

SIR.—In commenting on the task assigned to the Trusteeship Council to make of Jerusalem an international enclave, you state that " in drafting a statute for the area it will naturally pay attention to the wishes of the local inhabitants." If the Trusteeship Council does so, it will abandon the idea of internationalisation. as both the Jewish and the Arab inhabi- tants have declared their opposition to it. The other week 100,000 Jews In Jerusalem, citing the Psalmist's words, " If I forget thee, 0 Jeru- ,a1em, may my right hand forget its cunning! " took a solemn oath that they would not permit the city to be cut off from the State of Israel, of

which it has become part through the events of the past twelve months. The Government of Jordan, who are in occupation of the old portion of the city, are equally opposed to an international regime.

You also state that the Trusteeship Council will naturally pay atten- tion " to the clear expression of world opinion." What is this " world opinion," which has been rejected by the Governments of Great Britain, the United States, Canada, South Africa and ten other States, not to mention the six that abstained? It is the policy of a very strange alliance between the Kremlin. the Vatican and a number of Moslem States. It cannot seriously be suggested that they arc all animated by religious sentiment or by a regard for the preservation of holy shrines. If they were, why did they not take action to prevent the bombardment of the Holy City by Arab troops last summer, when twenty synagogues were destroyed? "World opinion " was then mute and inert. If it had not been for the valiant defence of the Israeli Army, the Holy City would have been reduced to a shambles, and there would have been nothing left to dispute about. It is a gratuitous and unjustified affront to the Government of Israel to allege that " the guarantees for the security of pilgrims and of the holy places, which Israel is prepared to offer, are not of much value." Most of the sacred sites and buildings are in the Arab-controlled area ; and, on the other hand, the most friendly relations exist between the Israeli authorities and the heads of the Christian Churches in Israel.

As far back as last April, Mr. Mayhew, the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, speaking in the House of Commons, expressed doubti " as to how far the scheme of full internationalisation can in fact be worked," and since then those doubts have hardened into firm opposition. This attitude is based upon a recognition that the scheme cannot he implemented without force, and that if the United Nations attempted to use force (the organisation of which would involve a political conflict of the gravest kind), it would be responsible for a far greater catastrophe than the revision of its judgement. The city of Jerusalem has con- tinuously played a more decisive part in the history, religion and national hopes of the Jewish people than in those of any other people, and any move to deprive them of that city would be an act of supreme injustice and a cardinal blunder. Since the united opposition of Israel and Jordan would render such an attempt impracticable, the only solution is for the Trusteeship Council to hand the matter back to the General Assembly for a decision that will accord with the realities of the situation and the demands of history.—Yours faithfully, Isuait. COHEN. 29 Pattison Road, N.W.2.