A defense of British policy in Palestine was issued here today by the British Information Service in a section headed “Notes on Palestine” in today’s issue of the BIS Notes.
The article takes up seven charges which have been levelled against Britain in connection with Palestine and the recommendations of the Anglo-American inquiry committee and offered the following explanations:
1. Britain has not yet rejected the recommendations of the Anglo-American inquiry committee. It is pointed out that Britain has not recommended an Arab or a Jewish state, but rather a Palestinian state, which has always been its aim.
2. Britain did not reject the recommendation that 100,000 Jews be admitted to Palestine. In consultations with the American Government, Britain is now trying to work out this problem and cannot at this time announce any policy.
3. The immigration of Jews to Palestine has not been stopped. At the present time Britain permits 1,500 Jews to enter Palestine monthly. Britain had hoped that immigration to Palestine would be conducted in an orderly fashion, but instead “large numbers of Jews” are crammed into unhealthy, unsafe refugee ships and are arriving in Palestine without the necessary permits.
4. Britain has not instituted a reign of terror in Palestine, but rather military action was undertaken only to restore order as a prelude to a peaceful solution of the Palestine problem. The article also points to the alleged lack of cooperation from the Jewish Agency in keeping order.
5. As proof of the fact that Britain is not discriminating against Jews, the article points out that action against the Arabs was taken in 1936 when the latter inaugurated a campaign of violence.
6. The Palestine Administration is not leaving the Jewish community defenseless, but is attempting solely to remove the source of extremist violence.
7. In conclusion, the article seeks to refute statements charging that British troops used “Nazi” methods in the Palestine raids. Britain fought against the Nazis since 1939, it says, and but for British resistance there would be no liberated Jews in Europe and no Jewish National Home in Palestine.
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