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.