Rejection of Pre-war Palestine Partition Scheme Termed “worst Mistake of Zionists”

Terming the rejection of the 1937 partition plan for Palestine “one of the worst mistakes of Zionism,” Harry Sacher, prominent British Zionist, told a conference of American army chaplains here that he hoped that “if there should be a new offer of partition, the mistake will not be repeated.”

“If we had a sovereign Jewish state, however small, we could have rescued large numbers of European Jews, established a Jewish Army and secured a seat at the peace table,” Sacher said, adding that “the best solution would be dominion status for a Jewish state in Palestine.” He declared that England is determined to stay in Palestine, but “the Yishuv of 600,000 will stay and grow there. There is no power that can stop them.”

Asserting that the tension was “almost beyond bearing,” Sacher counselled that “it is the duty of those taking the longer view to be patient themselves and teach others patience, because we are convinced the future is with us.”

J.B. Brunel-Cohen, addressing the Council of Jewish Fellowship, said today that that organization’s plan for solution of the Jewish problem in Europe envisaged full and equal citizenship for Jews in all countries, and free emigration of uprooted Jews who desired to go to free countries willing to accept them, with special consideration being given to settlement in Palestine.

In the Spectator, today, Neville Barbour, pro-Arab orientalist, said that a Jewish state could not be established in Palestine without prolonged use of force, and advocated, instead, a Jewish national home within the framework of an Arab Commonwealth of nations.