Page Twenty-Four
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, November 2, 1945
Attlee's Visit to Truman May Fix Palestine's Status
Nov. 10 Meeting Delays Decision on British Policy
Movement on to Force
Congressional Action
By Special Jewish News Correspondents
in New York and Washington
An important decision on Palestine is due this
week-end, and there is a possibility that Prime
Minister Attlee may make his long-awaited state-
ment with regard to the British government's
- atitude.
Many conflicting reports issued during the past
few days are being z'discounted.
One report stated that President Truman, whose
intercession is believed to have forced the issue, and
Mr. Attlee had reached an agreement on Palestine. No
details are given,. but some', Zionist , leaders fear that
it means a renewal of the plan for the partition of
Palestine into two states—one Jewish and one Arab.
•
Another report states that a joint American-British
commission will investigate the situation in Europe
to ascertain how many of the Jewish survivors desire
to settle in Palestine. Representatives of the Joint
Distribution Committee, Jewish Agency for Palestine
and other movements representing Jewish communi-
ties in Europe have agreed that 80 per cent of the
survivors desire to go to Palestine.
Ninety-five precent of the displaced Jews in the
U. S. occupied zone of Germany and Austria want to
settle in Palestine, and the remainder would like to live
with close relations in the United States and Great
Britain, Harvey D. Gibson, President of the Manu-
facturers Trust Company, who toured D. P. camps as
an American Red Cross Representative, reported on his
arrival in New York from Europe.
Force Action by Congress on Resolution
In the meantime, activities are proceeding to force
action by Congress on a resolution giving this gov-
ernment's endorsement to efforts for any open door
policy for Jewish immigration to Palestine, with the
view of "the eventual establishment of the proposed
Jewish Commonwealth.
Michigan's Senators—Arthur H. Vandenberg and
Homes Ferguson—are among the leading Supporters of
the Zionist cause.
Senators Wagner and Taft have again intro-
._ duced their resolution in behalf of a Jewish
• Palestine in the United States Senate, and except
. for the negative stand taken by Senator Bailey
of North Carolina there is overwhelming senti-
ment in support of this action.
It is understood that President Truman has given
the "go sign" to members of Congress to act favorably
on the Palestine Resolution.
The activities of the American Zionist Emergency
Council are reported to be bearing fruit, and the
Statement submitted last week to Secretary of State
Byrnes, by Dr. Abba Hillel Silver and Dr.. Stephen S.
Wise, are receiving high commendations.
Hold 45-Minute Conference with Byrnes
This memorandum was presented to Mr. Byrnes
.
after Drs. Silver and Wise had a 45-minute conference
with him.
Dealing with the late President Roosevelt's letter
to Ibn Saud, the memorandum points out that "the
exact nature" of the assurances to the Arabs mentioned.
in the letter "is not disclosed, but whatever their tenor,
we respectfully submit, they would not be valid if in-
consistent with the publicly stated objectives of Am-
erican policy or with the terms of the Palestine
Mandate."
"At the same time," the memorandum con-
tinues, "it is deeply to be regretted that President
Roosevelt's letter; while assuring King Ibn Saud
that no action would be taken by our Government .
that might prove hostile to the Arab people, failed
to point out that policy of the Jewish National
- Home envisaging as it does free Jewish immigra-
tion into Palestine, and the ultimate establishment
of a democratic Commonwealth under the auspices
of a Jewish majority, could not be conceived as
• hostile to the Arab people.
"It is doubly regrettable that the reply sent by
President Roosevelt to that communication failed to
repudiate its baseless attacks and its vilification of the
Jewish people. It is painful to observe that such
calumnies as that the Arabs have reason to fear a
series of massacres at the hands of the Zionists, that
the latter are preparing to create a form of Nazi-
Fascism and that it is the intention to do away with
the inhabitants of Arab countries, should have been
allowed to stand unchallenged by one who knew how
false those statements are . • ."
Presidents Favor Jewish State
The Memorandum cities continuous public pro-
nouncements by Presidents of the United States from
Wilson to Roosevelt, in. favor of a Jewish State in
Palestine. It recalls the joint declarations, by a ma-
jority of both houses of Congress, in 1941 and again
in 1945, in favor of the establishment of Palestine
as a Jewish Commonwealth; similar declarations made
by the governors of 40 out of the 48 states, and
the Palestine pledges in the platforms of both major
political parties.
Despite pledges, resolutions and Presidential pro-
nouncements in favor of a Jewish Palestine, the mem-
orandum says, "We must recall that so •far as we are
aware, the Government took no effective action to
protect the interests of the Jewish National Home, at
the time of the issuance of the White Paper- in 1939,
or to rectify that wrong in the, years which followed.
The Government did not energetically intervene when
opening the doors of Palestine became an urgent
humanitarian necessity because of the wholesale
slaughter of the Jews of Europe.
"It appears further that our Government failed to
advise its representatives abroad, particularly in the
Resolution in House
Special Wire to Jewish News
WASHINGTON, D. C. (JTA)—Rep. Joseph Martin,
House Republican leader, has introduced a resolution
calling for free immigration of Jews into Palestine and
the establishment there by Jews of a "free democratic
Commonwealth." The resolution is identical with the
one reintroduced in the Senate last week by Senators .
Wagner and Taft.
Believe Arabs Endorsed
Monthly Quota of 2,000
(Special Wire to The Jewish . News)
LONDON. (JTA)=The future of the Jews and of
Palestine is to be fully considered at Washington in
talks between President Truman and Prime Minister
Attlee, during the latter's visit in Washington Nov. 11,
Reuter's reports.
Though the broad outline of British policy for
Palestine seems to be settled, the plan has not yet as-
sumed final shape or the approval of the British
Cabinet, the report says. This may now be delayed
until after the Truman-Attlee discussions.
'There is still no definite date for the Attlee state-
ment which is now expected to cover only the im-
mediate question of providing relief for the distressed
European Jetvs. But. it is likely that the matter was
discussed at the lengthy Cabinet meeting Tuesday.
•
2,000 Monthly Quota Believed Fixed
The general expectation is that a 2,00 monthly
quota has been fixed for Jewish immigration and that
Azzam Bey, secretary of the Arab League, has agreed
to this figure during his London visit. In return he is
said to have asked for an affirmation of Britain's ad-
herence to the White Paper and to continue to consult
the Arabs on all matters affecting Palestine.
A spokesman for the Jewish Agency in London
told Reuter's Tuesday that Palestine Jewry will resist
this solution as utterly inadequate and that under
these conditions a large stepping-up of unauthorized
immigration would have to be counted upon.
Jewish circles say there are four full British diVis-
ions now in Palestine and that the navy has made
Haifa and not Cyprus its base. Nevertheless they be-
lieve that the Haganah will be able to ensure the safe
landing of Jewish refugees from Europe.
At the same time there is a' growing belief that
the ultimate solution
that will be proposed will be the
ti
partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states wih
Jerusalem as a neutral center.
Near East, that it was definitely committed to the
policy of the Jewish National Home and to instruct
them to be guided accordingly. The State Depart-
ment has on various occasions appointed to positions
of importance in the Near East, persons known as
avowed opponents of this policy and has had to rely
in turn upon reports and advises emanating from them.
"On two occasions the Executive branch exerted
its 'influence to prevent the adoption by Congress of a
resolution reaffirming the traditional American policy
on this subject. . Above all, our Government has failed
to utilize the fluid political conditions created by the
war and process of political re-orientation and re-
organization under way in the Near . East for the
purpose of insuring the status of the Jewish National
Home in the context of its Near East policies. •
"On the other hand," the memorandum continues,
"our country has given generous support to Arab
aspirations. It was among the first to recognize the
independence of Syria and Lebanon. It has encouraged
Arab States to make last minute declarations of war
..against Germany on the eve of the San Francisco
Conference assuring them places of honor among the
United Nations irrespective of their war records. Nor
has it withheld its support from the Arab League
despite the fact that the League has declared its.opposi-
tion to Jewish aspirations and has proclaimed the
liquidation of the • Jewish National 'Home as one of
its major objectives . . .
Millions Look Forward to Forthright Action
"The point has now been reached at which ambi-
guity and delay -are no longer feasible. Millions of
American citizens who have a strong moral and
humanitarian interest in this problem look to the
administration for immediate and forthright action
which will once ail for all dispell any uncertainty
regarding its present position and future intentions . . ."
Following the conference with Mr. Byrnes, Dr.
Silver held a press conference during which he said
that he and Dr: Wise- had "a long and exploratory con-
versation" with the Secretary of State and that Mr.
Byrnes "did not seem to indicate" that the Palestine
issue "is closed."
He denounced the "infamous lies" of King Ibn
Saud and the attempts of the Arab ministers in
Washington "to threaten the security of the Jewish
National Home which has been guaranteed by in-
ternational law and which is being administered
under a mandate which does not recognize the right
of any Arab State to determine the status or its
progress."
Pointing out that "spokesmen of foreign Arab
States have been threatening violence and war,"• he
demanded that the American Government "clearly
indicate to them that it does no intend to be in-
timidated or blackmailed in the carrying out of its
own policies." .
He said President Truman was motivated "by the
highest humanitarian interests" when he urged the
British Minister to admit 100,000 displaced European
Jews to Palestine, but, at the same time, he questioned
why Mr. Truman "has indicated that he is not in-
clined to press his request on Great Britain?"
Denouncing the "shocking repudiation" by the
British Labor Party "of its own committments made
as recently as four months ago," he asked: "Must the
remainder of the Jews of Europe perish in order to .
maintain Great Britain's imperial interest in the Near
East?"
Public Opinion Being Mobilized
In the meantime, public opinion is being mobilized
in defense of the Jewish position in Palestine.
A rally of more than 250,000 in Madison . Square,
New York, on Oct. 24, was addressed by Louis Lipsky,
Thomas Murray, Dr. Israel Goldstein, Louis Hollander,
Rabbi Zambrowsky and David Wertheim.
The rally adopted the following resolution trans-
mitted to Palestine:
"Hundreds of thousands of American Jews, :joined
by thousands of their Christian fellow-citizens; gathered
today at Madison Square Park, New York City, send
this message to the Jews of Palestine—that glorious
Yishuv which is today the symbol of hope for Jews the
world over:
"As citizens of the greatest city in the world we
have joined in a mighty demonstration of support for
your heroic struggle to rebuild the national life of the
Silver, Wise See Hope
•
In Parley With
Byrnes
Jewish people and to restore dignity and honor to the
broken remnants of European Jewry. In your fight
against a brutal policy which threatens to strangle 2,000
years of Jewish aspirations, you are joined by an over-
whelming majority of the people of this country. Free-
dom-loving America will not be silent while men of
little vision seek to scrap the solemn international
pledges made to the Jewish people.' We will not per-
mit the shattered Jews of Eurbpe now to become
victims of a new duplicity on the part of the British
Government, after their miraculous escape from the
claws of the Nazi beast.
"We have closed our shops and offices, left our
counters, assembly-lines and schools, and meeting
here, give expression to the profound indignation shar-
ed by the American people at the planned betrayal of
the Jewish National Home. And to you who have
dedicated your lives to the defense' of the Yishuv, we
say:we will not rest until • the present shameful
British policy on Palestine is destroyed: Your struggle
is our struggle, too. Our demands for justice will
grow stronger every day. Our voice will reach the
council-chambers of the Powers! It will penetrate the
barriers of official indifference; -it. will arouse the
conscience of civilized mankind to action!
"Jews of Palestine—the American people are
with you in this great cause We send you this
expression of our deep affection and unshakable
support in our common fight for the opening of
Palestine's doors to unrestricted Jewish immigra-
tion and its reconstitution as a Jewish State, and
are transmitting this declaration to the President
of the United States and the Prime Minister of
Great Britain."
Mrs. Roosevelt Clarifies "Unfair" Rumors
. WASHINGTON, (JTA)—Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt
has revealed what the late President told her about
his conversation on Palestine with King Ibn Saud, and
emphasized that she considers it _"not only unfair but
very unwise" .to use past utterances to influence new
decisions.
The statement, made in her syndicated column,
was prompted by Mrs. Roosevelt's desire to clarify th
rumors surrounding the exchange of correspondence
between her husband and the ruler of Saudi Arabi
which was made public by Secretary of State James
F. Byrnes. Pointing out that one "can really never
tell what a man who has been a thinker and a. leader,
in either public or private life, would think or d•
if he were alive and facing new circumstances,': Mrs
Roosevelt writes:
.• "I had heard my husband, on a number of oc
casions after his return from Yalta, give an accoun
of the visit paid him by King Ibn Saud. My husban
stated that he felt his conversations with the Aral
King had been a failure since the King had. told hii
that as long as he lived he did not wish any change.
An influx into Palestine of Jewish people from th
big cities of the world—like London, Paris, Berlin
New York—would meet resistance because it tende
to change the way of life of the whole land.
"The Arabs, said King Saud, are of the sam
Semitic race as the Jews, and get on well when thei
backgrounds are similar. My husband said that Kin
Ibn Saud asserted that he had been a warrior all hi'
life; he was not interested either in farming or forestry
Ns people were herdsmen and nomads, and he wishe
no change.
"My husband felt that a later generation might fee
differently, but at present there - was very little hop
of a changed attitude on the part of the Arabs 'wher
Palestine was concerned."
•
•
Prospects For Land Acquisitions Gloomy
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—The . prospects for furthe
acquisition of land by the Jewish National Fund ar
very bad unless the present restrictions on land sale
are removed, Dr. Abraham Granovsky, managing di
rector of the Jewish National Fund, declared here.
Addressing a press conference on the eve of 1 -1 .
departure for the United 'States, Dr. Granovsky sai
that despite the many hindrances, the JNF succeed
in purchasing 340,000 dunams. (approximately 85,00
acres) ' during the war.
Rosenblatt Calls on U. S. Jewry to Fight On
NEW YORK.—Judge Bernard A. Rosenblatt, Presi
dent of the Palestine Foundation Fund (Keren Haye
sod), Inc. who has just returned from a six weeks' tou
of Palestine asserted that it vvas the responsibility o
American Jewry to leave no stone unturned in i
fight against the illegal White Paper of 1939.
"Regardless of what Great Britain may do in th
matter," said Judge Rosenblatt, "the Jews of Palestin
stand as one, man determined to resist this unjust prac
tice. A promise made by the great leaders of Grea
Britain in 1917, affirmed through the years, and con
curred in by 52 nations of the world, cannot be treate
as a scrap of paper by an imperialist Great Britai
today." -
1 Day Trial Gets ?Years
Special Wire to Jewish News
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—A military court on Tuesda
sentenced Itzhak Ziegelbaum to seven years' impriso
ment for possessing 200 detonators. The trial last
only one day. The court refused the defendant's r
quest for postponement until he could secure couns
and prepare his defense. Protesting the verdict, Ziege
baum said:
"The murderer of millions, Joseph Kramer, w
'given the possibility to prepare his defense and th
authorities even invited Major Winwoo ' d (who d
scribed Jewish victims at Oswiecim as 'dregs of t
ghetto') to defend him. But a Jew in his own lan
is refused such right."
It is understood that members of the British Six
Airborne Division who have been spread- througho
Palestine to reinforce police patrols have been
structed "not to fraternize" with Jews and to avo
any contact with them.