Attlee’s Statement on Palestine This Week Not Expected to Be Conclusive, London Hears

Prime Minister Clement Attlee’s promised statement on Palestine this week is expected to be merely a report on the progress of negotiations between the United States and Britain and will not indicate final policy, according to the Sunday Observer’s diplomatic correspondent.

The Observer’s story stresses that conversations with the United States experts have not yet begun, adding that the British Government takes the view that the proposed transfer of 100,000 Jews to Palestine can only be discussed within the frame-work of all ten recommendations of the Anglo-American inquiry committee.

A further delay in formulating the final policy is likely since President Truman’s cabinet committee has not yet arrived here. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin may discuss with Secretary of State James F. Byrnes in Paris the broad principles on which an agreement could be reached.

Action regarding the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem may also be referred to Mr. Bevin, who may informally advise Egypt that the British attitude towards King Farouk having given sanctuary to the Mufti will be determined by whether the Mufti is prevented from interfering with British affairs in Palestine, according to reports here.

A Foreign Office official said yesterday that Sir Ronald Ian Campbell, British Ambassador in Cairo, had been instructed as to representations he is to make to the Egyptian Government over the presence in Egypt of the Mufti. Reuters reports that Sir Ronald has been instructed to ask the Egyptian Government its intentions regarding the Mufti while he remains in Egypt and to explain that Britain would be glad of an assurance that he would not be permitted to be politically active. It is not believed that Britain is asking for the Mufti to be handed over.