A surprising turn was given to the Palestine conferences today when the Palestine Arabs made known to the Government that its suggestions for establishment of an independent state in the Holy Land were unsatisfactory and submitted counter proposals.
The British plan, which remains unmodified, and the alternative suggestions put forward at this afternoon’s Anglo-Arab meeting will be discussed tomorrow afternoon at a smaller meeting, with the Arabs represented by two or three Palestinians and one delegate each of the five Arab states attending the conference, and Britain represented by Foreign Secretary Viscount Halifax, Undersecretary Richard A. Butler and Colonial Secretary Malcolm MacDonald.
At the same time, leaders of the Jewish delegation, who have categorically rejected the Government’s plan, were maintaining private and personal contacts with the British representatives and reiterated the hope that the Government would inform them by Friday whether it was prepared to offer new suggestions as a basis for further Anglo-Jewish talks.
With the discussion entering their fourth week, their status can be summarized as follows:
On the British side there is impatience at the failure to make headway in finding a common ground on which to base a solution of the Palestine problem acceptable to the three parties and a feeling that the talks have gone on long enough for a definite scheme to emerge.
On the Jewish side it is felt that the suggestions so far submitted are completely unacceptable as a basis for discussion and unless new suggestions are advanced which meet the major Jewish objections, there is no further purpose in continuing the discussions. If the independent state plan represents the Government’s policy, it is felt that there is no purpose to any further discussion because the Jews could not agree to it and the plan could only be put into effect if imposed by the Government without the Jews’ consent.
On the Arab side there is insistence on compliance with the maximum demands of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem, an independent Arab state and cessation of Jewish immigration immediately, and there is objection to the British suggestions on the ground that they do not go far enough in meeting the Arab demands.
The Jewish Agency Executive met again this afternoon to consider the situation and adjourned until Friday, by when it is hoped that a reply will be received from the Government to the demand for a new plan. If the reply indicates that new suggestions will be forthcoming, then formal talks will be resumed without delay, but if it reveals that the suggestions which the Jews have already rejected must be taken as the basis for discussion, it is understood that the Executive and the all-party Jewish conference committee will decide to withdraw from the conference.
Many of the Jewish delegation are impatient at the delay and are anxious to return to their homes. The American delegates, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Louis Lipsky and Robert Szold, will sail on the Queen Mary on Saturday unless a favorable reply is received.
The British representatives and certain Jewish leaders met informally tonight. Tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Dr. Wise and possibly other Jewish leaders will call on Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to discuss the situation. United States Ambassador Joseph P. Kennedy is keeping in close touch with the conference and is being informed of all developments.
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