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Archbishop of York, in Lords Debate, to Israel to Accept Arab Refugees

March 30, 1949
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The Archbishop of York today appealed to the United nations and the state of Israel not to keep the Palestine Arab refugees out of Pales-tine permanently, His appeal was voiced during debate in the House Lords on the Palestine refugee situation.

He asserted that it would be a “gross injustice” if the U.N. were to accent is position that people “driven away by terrorism should never be allowed to return.” is added that it “would be breaking every law if the U.H. accepts the position that theses refugees should be permanently expelled.”

In his plea to the people of Israel, he said that they did not realize what ### the permanent tarring of the Arab refugees would do not only to their reputations but also to their future security. Asserting that the Jewish state had teen secured partly by the courage and enthusiasm of its adherents” and partly by assistance from the United States and the Soviet Union, he warned that such help might not be available in the next 25 years — while the Arabs were becoming organized and disciplined and would be filled with a desire for revenge on account of the refugees.

Speaking for the government, lord Henderson said that it is understood that there are “plans afoot in the Arab states which might be expedited and expanded to contribute to the absorption of large numbers of refugees.” Be added that the government is ready to cooperate as far as possible to aid the Arabs and that it hoped that the “cry for help” would be heeded by other countries of the world.

Lord Samuel, first Palestine High Commissioner, announced that he is leaving for Israel in a few days to confer with Israeli authorities and indicate to them the house of Lords’ concern over the plight of the Arab refugees.

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