The executive members of the Jewish Agency met here tonight to draft a reply to the British Government’s new plan for Palestine, submitted to them on Friday by Foreign Minister Bevin.
The Agency’s formal answer will be presented to the government tomorrow, when the Jewish negotiators meet again with Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech-Jones, but it is certain that the acheme will be rejected.
Agency circles declared that the plan was no better, and in some respects worse than the Morrison federalization scheme. They cited the fact that under the new scheme immigration of 100,000 Jews to Palestine would be spread over a period of two years, while the question of statehood would be left in abeyance. They also pointed out that each zone will be handed over to the Jews or Arabs on the basis of the present population majority, thus barring the Jews from the Negev where there is an Arab majority at present.
They stated further that since the High Commissioner’s advisory council will not be composed along racial lines, the Arabs will have a majority on the basis of the present population distribution in the various social and economic groupings. This will leave control of Jewish immigration in the hands of an Arab majority. Finally, they say, the frontiers between the respective areas have not been set, with the apparent hope on the part of the British that it will set the Jews and Arabs bargaining against each other to the benefit of the British.
These circles, however, do not expect the Agency to break off discussions because, they declare, it is vital for the Zionists to maintain contact with the British at this critical time. There is no certainty about the Arab position, because the Palestine delegation has expressed its impatience at the continuation of a conference which does not grant them what they want. Friday night Bevin tried to get the Arabs to agree to continue the conference. It is understood that the Arabs objected, attacking particularly the provisions of the plan which provide greater Jewish immigration.
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