British Press Says Report Places Heavy Burden on Britain; Asks U.S. Share Responsibility

The British press is almost unanimous today in expressing apprehension concerning the tasks laid upon the British Government by the recommendations of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry on Palestine.

Comment in papers ranging from the liberal pro-Zionist Manchester Guardian to the conservative London Times stress the necessity for the United States to assume some of the Palestine burden.

The Manchester Guardian urged that American troops be sent to Palestine, pointing out that the report will satisfy neither Jews nor Arabs, nor the British. It expressed regret that the committee had discarded partition, thus placing all responsibility on the British Government. “One would have liked to see,” it wrote, “a definite recommendation that the United States, which has gone in for giving advice, should share in administration as a joint trustee. The Americans should realize that Arabs and Jews will be convinced of American readiness to share the responsibility only when they see American troops on Palestine soil.”

TIMES SAYS ONLY U.N. CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS OF PALESTINE, EUROPE’S JEWS

The Times said that “the recommendations are notable for their clear acknowledgment that the twin problems of Jewish distress in Europe and the position of Jews in Palestine both involve responsibility that can only be discharged by joint effort of the United Nations and that both demand fearless application of certain general principles. If the report is adopted by Britain and by the United States and finds broad acceptance as it deserves to do elsewhere, its translation into action cannot be successfully challenged. Partisan criticism no matter how sincere must not be allowed to disguise the honest impartiality of the findings or to prejudice the possibility which they offer of steady progressive resolution of two problems which at present obstruct rehabilitation both in Europe and the Middle East. No threats of violence, nor organized terrorism can be allowed to frustrate action along the lines suggested.”

The Daily Telegraph, stating that “the report cannot be lightly rejected, nor lightly accepted,” says that it is impracticable to admit so many persons to Palestine in so short a time. It points out that it must be realized that the 100,000 are only an advance guard of those who want to immigrate into Palestine, and “thus the committee’s refusal to suggest any later quota is prudent, although embarrassing to those responsible for policy.” The Telegraph’s military correspondent, Lieut. Gen. H.G. Martin, says that the report will almost certainly lead to an outbreak of Arab unrest in Palestine, and may endanger Britain’s current negotiations with Egypt.

The News Chronicle writes that as far as the question of Palestine itself is concerned, the recommendations are more ones of hope rather than convincing policy. It adds that a Holy Land of mixed peoples living side by side in cooperation and friendship is certainly an ideal solution, if obtainable.

The Daily Mail sees the report as a complete vindication of British authority in Palestine. It expresses the hope that reason will prevail on both sides. Describing the outlook as dark, it says that the first move to lighter it could be taken by the Jewish Agency, through an attempt to improve relations with the British Government.