Asserting that the projected investigation by the Anglo-American inquiry commission on Palestine is utterly useless, since the Palestine problem has been studied many times, the Arab League today condemned the proposed commission as “not justified.”
In a 1,200-word statement, the League says that “there is no doubt” as to the Arab rights to Palestine, or the desire of the Palestine Arabs for self-determination and independence. The statement, which is a reply to Foreign Secretary Bevin’s address in Commons on Nov. 13, reiterates the usual Arab viewpoint. without giving any indication of what action the League intends to take.
The statement welcomes Bevin’s assurances that the Arabs will be consulted on Palestine and interprets this to mean that the British Government will consult the Arab states on the Palestine issue. It thanks Bevin for the emphasis which he laid on the eternal and actual rights” of the Arabs and for the distinction which he drew between Zionists and Jews.
“The Arabs will never be able to agree to any Jewish immigration emanating from Zionist pressure,” the League declares. It expressed gratification at Bevin’s statement that efforts must be made not to “cure an old injustice with a new one and relieve persecution of one people by persecuting another.”
URGES RETURN OF JEWS TO NATIVE LANDS; AGAINST COMPROMISE WITH ZIONISTS
The loss of Arab national rights in Palestine, the League says, would not lessen the cruel persecution of the Jews. “The victory of democracy fortunately, facilitates the attempt to solve the Jewish problem in a democratic manner by making it possible for the persecuted Jews to return to the lands from where they were expelled by fascism,” the statement declares.
The attempt on the part of the Zionists to establish Palestine as a Jewish State makes any compromise impossible, the League emphasizes. It expresses the hope that “the present majority will have the opportunity to use its rights and achieve the independence of Palestine as pledged by the British Government.”
OPPOSES ADMISSION OF JEWS TO PALESTINE PENDING REPORT OF COMMISSION
Concerning the continuation of Jewish immigration to Palestine pending the results of the investigation of the Anglo-American inquiry commission, the League says: “The Arab states do not know on what basis this recommendation is made. Nor is it clear what contribution the United States and the British Empire propose to make.” Expressing the fear that this proposal comes as a result of “Zionist political pressure,” the League points out that this is an additional reason why the Bevin statement must be rejected.
The League asserts that now that the persecutions of Jews in Europe has ended, there is no reason for further admission of Jews to Palestine “which might endanger the peace of the whole Hiddie East.” Contending that many Jews want to leave Palestine, the League’s reply to Bevin concludes: “In this case wouldn’t your excellency find it more reasonable and more just to acquiesce in the legitimate desires of these Jews rather than to agree to further Zionist immigration?”
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