This week at Lake Success, U.S. delegate Warren Austin finally dropped the other shoe.*
In a 3,000-word speech, as turbid as the fine print in a lease, Delegate Austin announced that the U.S. had changed its mind on Palestine. The U.S. no longer supported partition. Instead, Austin declared, "My government believes that a temporary trusteeship for Palestine should be established . . .to maintain the peace [until] Jews and Arabs . . . reach an agreement regarding the future government of that country."
Many Zionists who heard him were near tears. Arab delegates smiled discreetly. The reaction abroad (see INTERNATIONAL) and...