PALESTINE PROBLEM

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 248, 1 August 1946, Page 5

PALESTINE PROBLEM

DEBATE OPENS IN COMMONS EXPERTS’ RECOMMENDATIONS (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, July 31. Opening the debate in the House of Commons on Palestine, Mr Herbert Morrison said it was being held under the shadow of tragedy—the outrage at the King David Hotel —which must have moved even the most warhardened.

The greatest obstacle against suc-cess—-police and military tracking and arresting those responsible—was the refusal of the Jewish population in Palestine to co-operate with the forces of law and order, said Mr Morrison. The British Government was determined to bring the perpetrators of the hotel outrage to account.

. “The curse of Hitler has not yet been fully removed,” said the speaker. “Some of bis victims fleeing from ravaged Europe carried Avith them the germs of those very plagues from which they sought protection.” , Mr Morrison said that 446 Jews whose records, showed association with terrorist organisations liad been arrested since the hotel bombing. There. Avas clear evidence that some, if not all, of the perpetrators came from Tel-Aviv, and therefore militarv operations Avere carried out yesterday to apprehend them. He Avent on: “Zionism is regarded by its supporters, as an expression of a profound and splendid impulse in the Jewish people’s souls. Let them beAvare lest this modern perversion of their faith bring ruin on them and the leaders of the Jewish community in Palestine. We feel bound to say that it has failed to preserve their movement from the contagion of false ideals. Many of them seem to have been led into courses their oavii consciences must have at first condemned.”

Referring to the letter which General ' Barker, military commander in Palestine, sent io officers forbidding British soldiers having social relationship Avith Jews, Mr Morrison said the Government Avas satisfied that General Barker’s instructions Avere justified in the present disturbed state of the country. “At the same time, making all allowances for the provocation in which our forces Avere exposed, and recognising that the letter Avas written shortly after the hotel outrage, the Government feels that it must dissociate itself from the actual terms in which the letter Avas couched.” Displaced Persons Mr Morrison said British and American experts who recently Avere examining the Palestine Committee's report recommended that Britain and America support a suggestion to the United Nations General Assembly that the United Nations members receive aproportion of Jewish and displaced persons in their territories. The experts recognised that Palestine alone could not absorb all Jewish victims of persecution, and they proposed that Britain and America also try to arrange the resettlement of a substantial number in Europe (itself. In addition, it Avas clear that room had to be found for many overseas. All the experts’ recommendations were unanimous.

Mr Morrison said he understood America was resuming normal immigration, and expected to receive some 53,000 immigrants a year from Europe. Plans were also being made for many displaced persons in Brazil and other South American countries. The experts also suggested the establishment of an international refugee organisation to deal effectively with the problem generally. Mr Morrison said the experts detailed a plan for the ■ establishment of semi-autonomous provinces in Palestine under a central government. He added that he believed that under this plan the Palestine Committee’s recommendation for the admission of 100,000 Jews was practicable. America would be asked to take sole responsibility for the sea transportation of the refugees from Europe to Palestine. Britain had told America that she accepted the recommendations as a bakis for negotiation. President Truman had decided to discuss them with American members of the expert committee, and Britain had invited Jews’ and Arabs’ representatives to confer on them. Mr Morrison said that under the experts’ proposal, Palestine would be divided in four areas:

(1) Jerusalem district comprising Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the immediate environs.

(2) The Negeb district, comprising the uninhabited triangle of South Palestine.

(3) A Jewish province comprising land on which Jews were settled, and a considerable area around the'settle ments.

(4) An Arab province comprising the remainder of Palestine, which was almost wholly Arab in land and population.

The boundaries would he purely administrative, having no significance for defence, customs or communications purposes, and would be unchangeable except by agreement. Mr Morrison said the success of the plan for provincial autonomy depended on American co-operation. If the plan was acceptable to all, Britain intended that it should be embodied in a trusteeship agreement for Palestine. The. 100,000 immigrants proposed would be selected primarily from Germany, Austria and Italy. Every effort would be made to complete the operation within a year from the date immigration started. The Jewish organisation had accepted financial responsibility, and the experts saw no reason why finance should not come from reparations, from .contributions from world Jewry, and from loans. They also suggested that America should be asked to grant the Palestine Government a substantial amount to be used freely for financing Arab development, and for extraordinary expenditure during the transitional period, after which Britain would be asked to be responsible for budgetary deficits. Mr Morrison said the expert committee proposed that provincial governments be empowered to limit the number and determine the qualifications of all making permanent homes in their territories. Mr Morrison said the provincial gov-

ernments would be required to guarantee civil rights and equality for all, and freedom of inter-territorial transit, trade and commerce. The central government would exclusively deal with foreign relations, customs excise and law and order, including police and armed forces. It would possess all the powers not expressly granted the provinces. An elected legislative chamber would be established in each province, and an executive consisting of a Ministerial Council. Bills would require the High Commissioner’s assent, which would only be withheld if the provisions were inconsistent with the instrument of government. The central government would be empowered to intervene if the provincial government failed to perform or exceeded its proper functions. It was not empowered to authorise immigration in excess of that proposed by the provincial government. In Washington to-day President. Truman directed the Cabinet" Committee on Palestine to return from London to Washington to enable the whole problem to be reviewed.