COMMONS DEBATE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 249, 2 August 1946, Page 4

COMMONS DEBATE

PALESTINE PROBLEM MR CHURCHILL CRITICISES GOVERNMENT (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 1. The Government believed that combined action with the United States would be more potent and more likely to succeed than action by Britain alone declared Sir Stafford Cripps, resuming the debate in the House of Commons on Palestine.

Sir Stafford Cripps added that the present temper of the Arab and Jewish peoples, exacerbated by terrorist outrages, made compromise difficult. There was nothing to be gained by antagonising either side. Britain was equally anxious to maintain friendship with Jews throughout the world and with the Great Arab populations in the Middle East. The present situation in Palestine made impossible the bringing of Arabs, and Jews together in unity. The Government experts’ plan should not be regarded as a rigid and final decision, but an important stage in the effort to achieve Arab and Jew collaboration in the Government of their own country. Mr Churchill declared that if the United States did not share the burden of the Zionist cause, Britain should give notice that the Palestine mandate would be returned to the United Nations and the country evacuated in a given period. He had always intended to press the United States, “which had sat' on the sidelines and criticised us with perfect detachment of irresponsibility,” to come to the help of Britain on equal terms. Jewish warfare against Britain would, if protracted, automatically release Britain, from all obligations. Mr Churchill declared that the idea that the Jewish problem could be solved by “a vast dumping of Jews in Palestine was too silly to consider.” The idea of Jews living in. Europe where they belonged should not he given up , too soon. Government Weakened Position Mr Churchill continued that the Government had weakened the posi tion' regarding Palestine by the piecipitate abandonment of the treaty rights in Egypt and particularly the Suez Canal. They were now forced to look out for a good jumping off place to protect the canal from, outside Egypt. The Government could now be accused of having a national strategic motive for wishing to letain a hold on Palestine. _ __ The Colonial Secretary, Mr G. H. Hall, replying to a question, said he was hoping that a meeting with Arabs and Jews would be arranged about the middle of August. The political correspondent ot the “Evening News” says President Tru man’s sudden decision to recall American experts who have been working witli British colleagues on a four-zone plan has shocked the Cabinet. Efforts are being made to discover the underlying reasons for President Truman s reluctance to support the plan as a basis for further negotiations. British Ministers are anxious to summon _ a round-table conference with Jewish and Arab representatives, hut if both sides cannot be persuaded to attend the same conference, separate discussions will be held. •-