American Jewish Committee Says Immigration of 100,000 Should Not Hinge on British Plan

The American Jewish Committee today appealed to President Truman to press for immediate transfer of 100,000 displaced European Jews to Palestine without making such immigration conditional upon acceptance of the British “federalization” plan. It hailed Mr. Truman’s decision to defer a decision on the proposal.

In a telegram to the President, Joseph M. Proskauer, president of the Committee, said that it was “wholly unrealistic” to make Jewish immigration dependent on any long-range solution of the Palestine issue.

The telegram points out that “it is utterly inhuman to postpone this step, essential to the saving of human lives, while the complex political problems regarding the ultimate structure of Palestine are being debated. It is perfectly possible to carry out the recommendation for immediate Jewish immigration made unanimously by the British and American members of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine. To delay further the implementation of this recommendation is unthinkable.”

“It must be remembered,” Mr. Proskauer’s telegram continued, “that Palestine is not a British colony. Great Britain governs it under the solemn responsibility of a trusteeship. Its duty is to keep Palestine open for Jewish immigration, certainly to the extent found reasonable by the Anglo-American committee.”