Man
a
1
THE JEWISH NEW*
Page Six
'16, 1947
Friday,14ay
,
UN Cornmitte e-Reats Move to Create Arab State
May G. Silver's Eloquent Address
Selection of Inquiry Body. 1Weizmann
se r
t fzerAgency.
Last Major Item on Agenda Before
Impresses UN Committee
.
By BORIS SMOLAR and BEATRICE HYMAN
LAKE SUCCESS, New. York.—(JTA)—After defeating
attempts to introduce the question of immediate establish-
ment of Palestine's independence—which would mean crea-
tion of an Arab state before the Jews attain a majority—the
United Nations' special political committee adopted the fol-
lowing among the terms of reference:
"The Inquiry Committee shall prepare a report to the
General Assembly and shall submit such proposals as it may -
consider appropriate for the solution of the problem of Pal-
estine." • •
Composition of Committee Left on Agenda
The eighth and last point of the terms of reference instructs
the Inquiry Committee to submit its repart not later than Sept. 1.
The composition of the Inquiry Committee remains the only major
item on the agenda.
The Political Committee adopted point six of the terms of ref-
erence reading: "The Inquiry Committee shall give most careful
consideration to the religious interests in Palestine of Islam, Juda-
ism, and Christianity."
Reference to consideration of the interest of all the inhabitants
was omitted. Shertok had asked for this last week when he argued
this point (religion) should be omitted or should read, "considera-
tion of the interests of the Jewish people and all other inhabitants."
Unable to Reach Decision on Amendments
After several days of prolonged discussion and pressure by the
Arab States and the Soviet bloc for inclusion in the terms of refer-
ence of instructions to the inquiry committee to submit, among
other things, a proposal on the establishment of immediate inde-
pendence for Palestine, the political committee, unable to reach
any decision on five different amendments, voted by a large majority
to delete the entire proposal. Tuesday the Arab campaign for in-
dependence collapsed.
Gromyko Softens His Early Stand,
Won't Press for Zion Independence
LAKE SUCCESS, N. Y.—The U. S. delegation to the
United Nations took the lead in fighting an uninstructed
inquiry committee and against immediate independence for
Palestine. Herschel V. Johnson argued inclusion of independ-
ence would mean prejudicing the case and would do "a moral
injustice" to Jewish opinion. He said while "I am not now
arguing for the Zionist state" an
independence clause would not terms of reference introduced by
give the same limelight to the the United States, Argentina and
Zionist case as it would to the
El Salvador, proposed the follow-
Arabs'.
Andrei Gromyko softened his ing -six-point resolution:
The inquiry committee shall have
earlier stand by
y stating he would the
widest powers to ascertain and
not press for immediate inde- I record facts.
It shall receive testimony, by what-
pence for Palestine unless ma- ever
means it considers appropriate
jority favored it.
In each case, from the Mandatory
Power. from representatives of the
population of Palestine, and from
JERUSALEM, ( J T A ) — Al-
though Dr. Chaim Weizmann will
not represent the Jewish Agency
at the United Nations during the
special session of the General As-
sembly, the possibility of his act-
ing as the Zionist spokesman
when the next regular session of
the Assembly is held in Septem-
ber has not been ruled out, it is
learned.
It now appears Dr. Weizmann
was asked by the Agency execu-
tive to go to New York and speak
for the Zionists at the special
Assembly, but declined on the
ground that he was unable to do
so on the short notice given him.
However, he did not exclude the
possibility of appearing before
the UN in September,
Earlier in the week, in his first
public appearance since the Zion-
ist Congress in December, Dr.
Weizmann said that although he
had committed himself not to talk
for or against the present Zionist
executive, he is not yet ready
to shed his responsibility to the
movement. He reiterated his be-
lied "in only one Zionist system
—conquest span by span, dunam,
by dunam."
would be investigated by the
inquiry committee, pointing out it
was the problem of immigration,
limited by the British White
Paper, which had made the prob-
lem of Palestine so acute and
brought it before the United Na-
tions. He concluded by saying to
make this clear he favored the
Soviet amendment which instruct-
ed the committee "to study vari-
ous other issues connected with
the problem of Palestine." H. T.
Andrews of South Africa endorsed
the position of the Norwegian
delegate.
Faris El-Khouri of Syria took
issue with the Norwegian dele-
gate's insistence on the connection
between the problem of Palestine
and that of the homeless Jews in
Europe. Mr. El-Khouri reminded
the committee of a clause in-the
constitution of the proposed In-
ternational Refugee Organization,
which stipulates that resettlement
of refugees shall not take place in
any non-self-governing territory
without the consent of its popula-
tion.
Denying Palestine is an Arab-
Jewish problem, Katan- claimed
that Arab opposition to immigra-
tion and establishment of a Jewish
National Home is not based on
racial prejudice, but would be
equally strong against any group
which tried to force immigration.
British Delegate Again Hedges
During the debate on the sub-
committee's resolution, Sir Alex-
ander Cadogan, the British dele-
gate, was again asked—this time
by Charles Malik of Lebanon—
to state whether his country would
carry out the recommendations of
the UN when they are finally
arrived at. Cadogan expressed
Britain's interest in finding a
"just" solution of the Palestine
problem, but added "we should
not have the sole responsibility
for enforcing a solution which is
not acceptable to both parties and
not reconcilable with our con-
science."
Ben Gurion is "Mistaken"
A wave of laughter swept the
crowded committee room when
Argentine delegate Jose Arce mis-
took David Ben Gurion for the
head of the Arab delegation.
The incident occurred when the
committee began discussion of the
sub-committee's resolution the
terms of reference. The Egyptian
delegate, supported by . Gromyko,
insisted that the discussion should
not take place until the Palestine
Arab delegation was heard.
Whereupon the Argentinian dele-
gate, looking toward Ben Gurion,
said "I understand the head of
the Palestine Arab delegation is
already here in the room, thus
the Palestine Arabs can now be
J. N. Gets Sharply Divergent
such other governments. non-govern-
mental organizations and individuals,
Views of Palestine Issue
as it may Wish to consult.
LAKE SUCCESS, ( J T A ) —
The committee shall bear In mind
Shari:SIT divergent views on the the principle that independence for the
population of Palestine should be the
Palestine problem were voiced at ultimate purpose of any plan for the
the UN Political and Security future of that country.
It shall prepare a report to the
Committee May 9 when Moshe General
Assembly and shall submit
Shertok, chief of the political de- such proposals as it may consider
for the solution of the
partment of the Jewish Agency, appropriate
problem of Palestine.
and Henry Katan, of the Pales-
Its report shall be communicate( i
ug
the S
ec retary-General
-G : unterianl fn possible by
tine Arab Higher Committee , to
A ugust
a ny event n
not
were heard. It was the first time later than Sept. 1. 2947. in order that
the circulat ed
the membe
bfeor r
since the issuance of the Mandate states
imay of
Nations in
the Arabs and Jews had met face' consideration by the second regular
session
sha7f give G4onseralcaAresfse
umblyT.isider-
to face at an international tribunal
considering the fate of the Holy , atton to the interests of all inhabitants
of
Palestine
and
also
to
the
religious
Land.
interests in Palestine of Islam, Jewry
Their testimony came after sub- and
Christendom.•
mission of a sub-committee report Welcomes Questioning of Britain
on the proposed instructions to Commenting on the terms of
the inquiry committee which re- reference, Shertok said the Jewish
vealed a difference of opinion be- Agency approved the recom-
tween the American and Soviet mendation by the sub-committee
concepts as to the terms of refer- which provides for testimony by
ence, with Soviet delegate Andrei the Mandatory. He declared that
Gromyko suggesting among other Britain had submitted the Pales-
proposals the committee draft one tine problem to the General As-
"Hon the question of establishing s embly because of the crisis which
without delay the independent had arisen in the administration
state of Palestine."
of Palestine as a result of Britain's
Cites Sincere Desire
policy on immigration, which con-
While Shertok emphasized it filets with the Mandatory's obli-
was the sincere desire of the Jew- gation to the Jewish people.
ish Agency and of the Jewish Gromyko Suggests Amendment
community in Palestine to co-
Gromyko, emphasizing that he
operate fully with the UN inquiry
had no objection to the spirit of
committee, the Arab representa-
the proposed six-point resolution,
tive, who was seated at the same
place from which Dr. Abba Hillel suggested amending the first,
second and third points of the
Silver spoke May 8, insisted on
terms of reference to read as
a declaration of Palestine's inde- follows:
pendence and demanded the abro-
To study in detail the situation in
gation of the Mandate.
Palestine by carrying out investiga-
Mr. Katan charged that the Bal- tion on the spot.
assemble, analyze and collect
four Declaration was the root of all To
data relating to the question; to
all the disturbances in Palestine receive written and 'verbal testimony
interested governments and such
and said that the UN inquiry com- from
non-governmental organizations and
mittee must investigate the legal- individuals who will wish to give the
testimony and whom the commission
ity of the Declaration and study will
deem appropriate to grant a hear-
the validity of the Mandate. He ing; to study various other issues
also requested the inquiry com- connected with the problem of Pales-
tine.
mission to study the question of
To prepare and submit to the next
halting Jewish immigration, al- regular session of the General Assem-
bly proposals on the solution of the
leging that the entry of Jews into problem
of Palestine which the com-
Palestine has led to the present mission will consider useful, including
proposal on the question of estab-
tension there. He strongly opposed a
ilshing without delay the independent
the admission of displaced Jews.
state of Palestine."
Proposes Six-Point Terms
Must Study Question of DPs
The sub-committee, which had
Finn Moe of Norway expressed
been charged with creating a the hope the sub-committee's
single working draft from the resolution meant the problem of
three resolutions on the proposed the homeless Jews in Europe heard."
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Correspondent)
LAKE SUCCESS, (JTA)—In an impressive half-hour
address, which pleased most of the United Nations delegates
because of its moderate tone, but which is reported to have
displeased the Soviet bloc, • Dr. Abba Hillel Silver outlined
before a full session of the UN Political Committee the views
of the Jewish Agency with regard to the instructions to be
given to the projected U. N. fact-
finding committee on Palestine.
This was the first official ap-
pearance of the Jewish Agency
before the United Nations.
Jewish Recommendations
In his speech, to which the
delegates from the 55 nations
listened with the utmost atten-
tion, the American Zionist leader
emphasized when the Jewish
Agency speaks of a Jewish state
it does not have in mind any
racial or theocratic state, but one
which is based upon full equality
and right for all inhabitants
without distinction "and with-
out domination or subjugation."
He advanced the following pro-
posals with regard to the terms
of reference of the projected in-
quiry committee.
The inquiry committee should ask
Britain for "an account of its steward-
ship• on the Palestine Mandate and
itself consider this account instead of
waiting until Britain submits such a
report to the Assembly in September.
The inquiry commission should visit
Palestine where it will be able to
establish how Jewish achievements
have been of benefit to all elements of
the population.
While in Palestine the inquiry com-
mission should consider the potential-
ity of the country if properly de-
veloped.
Commission should investigate how
the Mandatory has carried out its
obligations under the Mandate with
regard to encouraging settlement of
Jews on the land.
Commission should visit displaced
persons camps in Europe, and pending
its report. displaced Jews should be
allowed to immigrate In substantial
numbers to Palestine.
t
pie and the Jewish National
Home, as provided in Article 4 of
the Mandate, should be regarded
"as key terms and basic con-
cepts" in the terms of reference
of the inquiry committee which,
he requested, should constantly
keep in mind "the international
obligations to insure the unin-
terrupted development of the
Jewish National Home" in con-
sidering proposals for the future
government of Palestine.
Hs also directed the projected
committee's attention to the fav-
orable stand taken by the Arabs
after the last war on the question
of the establishment of a Jewish
homeland in Palestine. "That the
return of the Jews to Palestine
would prove of benefit, not only
to themselves but also to their
Arab neighbors, was envisaged
by the Emir Feisal, who was the
great leader of the Arab peoples
at the Peace Conference follow-
ing the first World War," the
Agency spokesman said.
`Moderate and Proper'
"On March 3, 1919, he wrote:
"We Arabs . . . look with the
deepest sympathy on the Zionist
movement. Our deputation here
in Paris is fully acquainted with
the proposals submitted by the
Zionist Organization to the Peace
Conference, and we regard them
as moderate and proper."
' • ' I
look forward, and my people
with me look forward, to a fu-
ture in which we will help you
and you will help us, so the
countries in which we are mutu-
ally interested once again may
take their places in the com-
munity of civilized peoples of the
world."
Dr. Silver pointed out the Jew-
ish Agency is not - engaged and
will not be engaged "in any
criticism or condemnation of the
people of Great Britain. We have
the highest regard and admira-
tion for that people and for its
monumental contributions t o •
democratic civilization."
Silver Questioned by Delegates
Following Silver's address, Mr.
Lester Pearson, Canadian dele-
gate and chairman of the com-
mittee, suggested if any mem-
bers of the Political Committee
wished to ask questions, they
could do "so and additional ques-
tions could be communicated to
him in writing, which he would
forward for reply to the head
of the Jewish Agency delegation.
All questions—oral and written
—would be answered at a later
date, Pearson said. The same pro-
cedure will be followed when
the Palestine Arab delegation is
heard.
Asaf Ali of India then ad-
dressed the following questions
to Silver:
Solution of Problem
Elaborating on the last point
Dr. Silver emphasized the solu-
tion of the problem of displaced
persons brooks no delay. "Im-
mediate relaxation of the re-
strictive measures on immigra-
tion into Palestine and a return
to the status which prevailed be-
fore the White Paper policy of
1939 was imposed will not only
be a boon to these suffering hu-
man beings, but will greatly re-
lieve the present menacing ten-
sions 40 Palestine, will wash out
much of the bitterness, and will
enable the deliberations of the
inquiry committee and of the
next Assembly to be carried on
in a calmer spirit and an at-
mosphere of moderation and
good will," he said.
Dr. Silver urged the. United
Nations when defining the terms
of reference of the inquiry com-
mission, not to consider Palestine
only in terms of a haven for a
certain number of refugees, or
consider the problem merely one
of reconciling differences be-
tween two sections of the Pales-
tine population, but to take into
consideration the provisions of
the Mandate and the Balfour
Declaration.
Quotes Famous Men
He quoted statements from
Lloyd George, Winston Churchill
What were the numbers of Jews
and Woodrow Wilson to prove from
outside, living in Palestine, in
that they interpreted the Pales- 1900, 1930, and 1939?
Does he recognize a distinction be-
tine Mandate to mean that Pal- tween
a "Jewish State" and a "Jew-
estine is to be established as a ish National Home?"
some Idea be given of the age
Jewish Commonwealth. He also of Can
the various Jewish communities in
quoted the resolution of the 'Europe who would not like to go to
the National Home, and were they as-
British Labor Party of 1945 similable?
which said:
Turning to Dr. Silver's reference to
the "etremely conciliatory statement
"Here we halted half-way, by Emir Feisal in Paris in 1910 wel-
irresolutely, between conflicting coming the Jews to Palestine." Mr.
asked is there any reason why the
policies. But there is surely All
Arabs are resisting Jewish Immigra-
neither hope nor meaning in a tion now?
The. Nazi government in Germany,
Jewish National Home unless we continued
Mr. All, is now completely.
are prepared to let the Jews,• if suppressed. -Is there any reason why
refugees cannot be resettled in
they wish, enter this tiny land in Jewish
their natural German home "whose
such numbers as to become a language they speak and where they,
easily assimilable? '
majority. There was a strong are
Speaking of the conditions prevail.
case for this before the war, and Ing in Palestine now, Mr. All asked,
public servants of the British
there is an irresistible case for why
government, who are doing their duty
it now."
under extremely difficult circum-
stances. "are being picked off by
Speaks For World Jewry
violence?"
Emphasizing the Jewish
Mr. Alfred Fiderkiewicz, Po-
Agency delegation speaks not lish delegate, asked:
only for the organized Jewish
How many organizations and whom
community of Palestine, but for does the Jewish Ageney represent, and
howis its executive committee estab.
the Jewish , people of the weridi fished
and organized?
the ZOA.president• told the- Pol5t-..': -- „Bave, _there been. any. attempts at
collaboration between Arabs and Jews
,ical Committee the Jewish peo- in Fakiitinet