Bevin Expresses More Palestine Will Be “not a Jewish State, but a Palestinian State”

Foreign Socretary Bevin tonight expressed the hope that the policy on Palestine which he announced earlier in the day in the House of Commons will lead to a new constitution for Palestine, “not as a Jewish State but as a Palestinian State.”

American correspondents to whom he made this statement in the presence of Colonial Secretary George Hall, asked Bevin whether the trusteeship for Palestine would be individual or collective. The Foreign Minister replied that he was unable to predict what recommendations the Anglo-American inquiry committee may make on this subject. He replied similarly to a question on the partitioning of Palestine.

Asked whether any change in the contents of the Palestine Mandate will be made on the occasion of its transfer to the United Nations Organization Bevin said that such changes may be possible. He revealed that although he had met with Dr. Chaim Weizmann and Azzam Bey, Secretary General of the Arab League, he did not consult with either Jews and Arabs with regard to the statement which he made today.

Secretary Bevin charged that the Jewish Agency’s refusal to use all available immigration certificates under the White Paper was “a political lever” with which it had hoped to influence Britain to change its policy. “This,” he remarked, “when so much is said about the suffering of Jews in Europe.” He admitted-that the number of certificates in question amounted to only 2,000.

Britain, he said, remains responsible for the maintenance of order in Palestine, and is opposed to any settlement by force. Consultations are proceeding with the Arabs regarding Jewish immigration to Palestine, pending the recommendations which will be made by the Anglo-American committee, he disclosed. Jewish immigration to Palestine will continue under the White Paper ratio, he added.