Jewish Agency Welcomes Truman Statement, but Doubts British Will Heed Recommendations

A Jewish Agency spokesman today declared that the Agency welcomes President Truman’s statement on Palestine, but doubted that the British Government would agree to his proposals.

The President’s statement, the spokesman told a press conference, reflected not only his views, but the views of both major political parties in the United States and, therefore, those of the American people. He pointed out that despite the fact that the United States has “real and legitimate interests in the Arab countries,” it did not hesitate to recommend the admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine and a final solution of the entire problem.

Referring to the widespread attacks on the Truman statement in the British press, which termed it a political gesture, the Agency representative said that it was in accordance with American policy and not a campaign stunt. He stated that it was “within the President’s competence to issue statements to the American people before elections, after elections and without elections. We feel that the interest of the American people in Palestine is as legitimate as that of the Arab states.”

The “unanimous outcry” in the British press, however, indicates that the British Government is not ready and unwilling to come to grips with the Palestine problem, the spokesman said.

HAGANAH HAILS TRUMAN, BUT ASKS DEEDS NOT WORDS

The Haganah radio “Voice of Israel” said tonight, in commenting on Truman’s statement, that “we are happy and grateful to see that there is at least one man in power in this world to whom a pledge remains a pledge.” It added, however, that the Jewish resistance movement awaited deeds, not words. Referring to Prime Minister Attlee’s reply, the radio declared that he had “let the cat out of the bag” by clearly indicating he was angry at President Truman, because he had not succeeded in pulling the wool over his eyes.

The newspaper Mishmar, organ of the left-wing Hashomer Hazair, said today that Attlee’s rejection of the Truman suggestions is additional proof that England wants the gates of Palestine to remain closed. “This is the hard fact, and in its light we will have to establish our line, and seek our way,” the paper wrote.

The conservative daily Haaretz published an editorial stating that if the British Government cannot see its way clear to allow Jews and Arabs to build their respective independent national lives, it should surrender the mandate to an international authority. “Only one thing cannot continue: constant postponements and a one-sided British solution,” it concluded.

The Arab Higher Committee, which was scheduled to meet today to discuss the Truman statement, decided yesterday to oppose the “moderate proposals” for a Palestine solution set forth in London by Arab representatives at the Palestine conference.