JEWISH STATE OPPOSED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24979, 13 September 1946, Page 7

JEWISH STATE OPPOSED

ATTITUDE OF ARAB COUNTRIES LONDON, Sept. 11. Trie president of the Syrian Chamber of Deputies (Mr Faris El Khouri), replying at the London conference on Palestine to Mr Attlee’s opening speech, said that the Arabs welcomed attempts for economic co-operation with Britain, which would help both parties, but they were convinced that no such co-operation, however extensive. would give concrete results if any recognition of independent political status were accorded to the Palestine Jews. The Arab States were concerned that their rights should be recognised and that no part of Palestine should be cut off to make a home or State for a body of immigrants belonging to different national--1 Mr Faris El Khouri said that Palestine was heavily burdened, because for a long time it had been the instrument for the realisation of the dreams tfftd ambitions of political Zionists. A policy had been imposed on Palestine which decreed that its own people should be uprooted from their lands so that another people could take their place. The problem was of world concern and it required a world-wide solution. No solution could, however, be found in Palestine. The natural common sense solution was the right of Palestinians to live securely ip their own country, and for democratic selfdetermination to be realised. The Arabs condemned terrorism by gangs of political Zionists. They gravely feared that if this terrorism contin..ed it would compel the Arabs to resort to their own means of defending themselves. The conference then went into secret session. A communique issued later said that the Foreign Secretary (Mr Bevin) warned delegates to take the broadest view of the problem, which had reactions spreading far beyond the limits of Palestine itself. The Colonial Secretary (Mr George Hall) outlined the plan for a provincial autonomy. * , The secretary-general of the Arab League (Azzam Pasha) said that the Arabs earnestly desired to arrive at a just and fair solution in accordance with democratic principles.