501.BB Palestine/4–3048: Telegram
The United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) to the Secretary of State
536. Following telegram from Palestine Truce Commission to SC President read to Committee 1 on April 30:
“General situation Palestine deteriorating rapidly. Government departments closing daily. Normal activities country coming to a standstill. JA is acting as a general organizing body for Jewish areas and attempting to replace suspended governmental activities. Arab areas are depending on municipal authorities within the townships and villages without any central authority. Telegraph facilities ceased in most areas as have telephone trunk lines. Telephones still work locally but with decreasing efficiency. Lydda airport is out of operation and regular air communication and airmail service in and out of country have stopped. Intensity of fighting is increasing steadily. Camps and other important areas vacated by British forces immediately become battlegrounds. Operations on larger and more important scale than Haifa expected shortly. Rumors tending to increase the nervous tension in the country.”