POSITION OF BRITISH

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24866, 4 May 1946, Page 7

POSITION OF BRITISH

The Arab Higher Committee, during a five-hour meeting in Jerusalem, worked out a four-point plan for the Palestine Arabs’ resistance to the British and American Committee’s findings. The Arab Higher Committee, meeting on the eve of the Arab protest strike throughout Palestine, appointed a sub-committee to draft plans for: <l> A civil disobedience campaign. (2) A mass meeting throughout Palestine on May 10. <3l An Arab national fund to finance the Arab cause in Palestine. (4) Mobilisation of Arab youth and Arab resources ‘‘in the service of the country.’’ • The secretary of the Arab Higher Committee (Dr, Isaat Tannous) revealed that the committee to-day addressed a letter to Mr Attlee containing a warning that the Arab Higher Committee rejected the Anglo-Ameri-can Committee’s recommendations. Dr. Tannous described the letter as ‘‘second only to an ultimatum.'* The letter said: “The implementa-

tlon of the Anglo-American Committee’s recommendations threatens the national existence or the Arabs in Palestine. The Arab Higher Committee declares the determination of the Arabs to defend the country with all the means at their disposal. The Arab Higher Committee believes that the committee's report is not the result of a free, innocent examination of the problem, but is the outcome Of British and American policy. The report, in addition, is a violation of the rights of self-expression and the pledges given to the Arabs by the British, also a violation of the Atlantic Charter and the principles for which the Allies waged war. The Arabs, pending the decision of the British Government on the implementation of the report, will proceed to organise national forcesand prepare all means for defence in order to resume the national struggle.” It is reported from Beirut that all businesses are closing down to-morrow as a pretest. Lebanese official and public quarters expressed strong resentment to the recommendations.