The Lebanese Government is opposed to the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine, Acting Premier Abu Shalah told a representative of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today.
Lebanon, Shalah added, is also opposed to the creation of a Greater Syria federation to include Syria, Lebanon, Trans Jordan and Palestine. Advocates of such a union point out that settlement possibilities for Jews might be opened in areas within the federation, but outside Palestine. Well informed observers here assert, however, that neither Syria or Lebanon would agree to Jewish immigration.
A conference of representatives of Arab governments to formulate and propagandize Arab demands for the settlement of the Palestine question may be held early this summer, informed quarters said today. Such a conference would have the tactical advantage for leaders of the pan-Arab movement of forcing the hand of King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia, who has been balking at joining the Arab unity movement on grounds that the Palestine question called for a solution before there could be Arab unity. It would be difficult for him to refuse to participate in a conference seeking this very aim.
One of the chief purposes of the conference would be to give the Arab states a chance to reaffirm their claim to a special status regarding Palestine, and demand that they be equal partners with the great powers in determining the country’s fate, it was pointed out.
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