Exodus - Leon Uris [263]
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1947
The gavel rapped. The General Assembly of the United Nations was ordered into session.
“We shall have a roll call of nations on the partition resolution. A two thirds majority is needed for passage. Delegates will answer in one of three ways; for, against, or abstain.”
A solemn quiet fell over the great hall.
“Afghanistan.”
“Afghanistan votes against.”
The Yishuv had lost the first vote. Barak marked it on a pad.
“Argentina.”
“The government of Argentina wishes to abstain.”
“We have to cut the abstentions down,” Barak whispered; “they could kill us.”
“Australia.”
Everyone leaned forward as Evatt got to his feet with the first vote of a British Commonwealth nation.
“Australia votes in favor of partition,” Evatt said.
A buzz of speculation went up. Weizmann leaned close to Barak’s ear. “Do you think it might be a trend in the Commonwealth?”
“We’ll just have to count them one at a time ... we can’t tell.”
“Belgium.”
“Belgium votes for partition.”
Another buzz arose in the great hall. A few days earlier Belgium had abstained on the test vote. At the last minute Spaak had defied British pressure.
“Bolivia.”
“Bolivia votes for partition.”
“Brazil.”
“Brazil favors partition.”
The South American countries were sticking. A vital vote was coming up with the next call. If the Soviet Union had a double cross up its sleeve, the world would know it now, for a satellite, White Russia, was next.
“Byelorussia.”
“White Russia votes for partition.”
In unison the Jews breathed a sigh of relief. The Slav bloc was going to come in. The signs were bright.
“Canada.”
Lester Pearson arose and spoke firmly. “Canada votes for partition.” The second of the Commonwealth countries had gone against Great Britain.
“Chile.”
Another delegate arose in place of the chief who had resigned in protest to his orders to abstain. “Chile has been ordered to abstain,” he said slowly.
“China.”
China, jockeying to become the dominant power in Asia, feared to go against the Moslems of India and Pakistan.
“China abstains.”
It was a setback for the Yishuv.
“Costa Rica.”
The Costa Rican delegate had been approached by the Arabs who tried to bribe his vote by a promise to support him for an important United Nations post. He stood and looked at the Egyptian delegation.
“Costa Rica votes in favor of partition.”
The man who would not be bought sat down smiling.
“Cuba.”
“Cuba votes against partition.”
This came as a complete and unexpected shock to the Yishuv.
“Czechoslovakia.”
“Czechoslovakia votes for partition,” Jan Masaryk said.
“Denmark favors partition.”
“The Dominican Republic favors partition.”
“Egypt.”
“Egypt votes against and will not be bound by this outrage!”
The gavel rapped and order came about slowly, following the Egyptian’s angry outburst.
“Ecuador.”
“Ecuador votes for.”
“Ethiopia.”
“Ethiopia ... abstains.”
It was a bombshell! The faces of all the Arab delegates turned to the Ethiopian with stunned expressions. The Syrian delegate shook his fist angrily.
“France.”
The first of the big powers, reluctant France had its turn. Parodi came to his feet slowly. An abstention by France could prove disastrous for the Yishuv. Had Blum and the French people succeeded?
“The Republic of France votes for partition,” Parodi said in a voice filled with satisfaction.
An expectant murmur went up. It was the first excited awareness that the miracle might actually take place!
“Guatemala.”
Granados, the champion of partition, spoke. “For,” he said.
“Greece.”
“Greece votes against partition.”
In the last moment the Greeks had bowed to Egyptian blackmail.
“Haiti.”
Haiti was a key vote that had suddenly been left without instructions in the last two days. “The government of Haiti has just sent instructions for this delegation to vote in favor of partition.”
“Honduras.”
“Honduras wishes to abstain.”
“Iceland.”
“Iceland votes for partition.” The world’s oldest republic had worked to make the world’s newest