Jewish Agency Leaders Confer with Bevin; Submit Observations on British Proposal

Leaders of the Jewish Agency today met with Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin and Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech-Jones for two hours and submitted to them the Agency’s reaction to the latest British proposal for the solution of the Palestine problem.

An official communique issued following the meeting does not reveal the nature of the Jewish comments. However, it is understood that the Jewish leaders pointed out that the government proposal must be rejected for the following reasons:

1. The proposed admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine is not satisfactory because it is spread of two years. Furthermore, there is no assurance of continued Jewish immigration at the end of the two-year period.

2. The Jewish Agency regards the British proposal as ruling out the possibility of the establishment of a Jewish state.

3. There is no assurance in the proposal that the land and water resources of Palestine will be developed on a national basis.

4. The proposal, in providing for a five-year period of trusteeship, ignores the Jewish demand for a final solution of the Palestine problem. The plan thus means five years of uncertainty leading to no definite solution.

A Jewish Agency spokesman, commonting on the British proposal, today said: “Since the publication of the Morrison Plan we have been awaiting modifications which would bring it more into line with our demands. Such modifications as are in this proposal only take it further from our demands.”

FURTHER JEWISH-BRITISH TALKS POSSIBLE; ARABS REJECT PLAN

Further talks between the Agency leaders and members of the Cabinet were not ruled out today. At the same time, Dr. Fadil Jamali, spokesman for the Arab delegations to the Conference on Palestine, tonight announced that after long consideration of the British proposal, the Arab delegations rejected it as “unsuitable to form the basis of discussion.” The rejection was sent today to Bevin, he revealed.

Representatives of Jewish organizations met today under the chairmanship of David Ben Gurion to hear a report of the Agency’s informal talks with the representatives of the Government. The meeting was attended by leaders of the Jewish Agency, Anglo-Jewish Association, Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Agudas Israel. Acting Chief Rabbi Lazarus was also present.

Representative of the Agudes Israel met this afternoon with Creech-Jones prior to the meeting between the members of the Cabinet and the Agency leaders.