Truman and Bevin Announce Agreement on Anglo-american Inquiry Body on Palestine

President Truman and British Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin today announced simultaneously in Washington and in London that the United States Government has accepted the British proposal for the establishment of a joint Anglo-American committee of inquiry to examine the question of European Jewry “and to make a further review of the Palestine problem in the light of that examination.” Pending the report of that committee, Bevin said, there is to be “no interruption of Jewish immigration at the present monthly rate.”

At the same time, President Truman released the text of his letter of August 31 to Prime Minister Attlee in which he urged the admission of 100,000 Jewish refugees to Palestine and stressed that he continued “to adhere to the views expressed in that letter.”

The President revealed that following his letter, he was advised by the British Government that “because of conditions in Palestine it was not in a position to adopt the policy recommended, but that it was deeply concerned with the situation of the Jews in Europe.” Subsequently, he said, the British suggested the formation of the joint Anglo-American committee.

“In view of our intense interest in this matter and of our belief that such a committee will be of aid in finding a solution which will be both humane and just, we have acceded to the British suggestion,” the President said, expressing the hope that the committee will accomplish “its impeortant task with the greatest speed.”

FUNCTIONS OF ANGLO-AMERICAN COMMITTEE DEFINED

The inquiry committee will conduct its work under a rotating chairmanship. The “terms of reference” of the committee, as agreed upon by the two governments, are as follows:

“1- To examine political, economic and social conditions in Palestine as they bear upon the problem of Jewish immigration and settlement therein and the well-being of the peoples now living therein.

“2- To examine the position of the Jews in those countries in Europe where they have been the victims of Nazi and and Fascist persecution, and the practical measures taken or contemplated to be taken in those countries to enable them to live free from discrimination and oppression, and to make estimates of those who wish or will be impelled by their conditions to migrate to Palestine or other countries outside Europe.

“3- To hear the views of competant witnesses and to consult representative Arabs and Jews on the problems of Palestine as such problems are affected by conditions subject to examination under paragraphs 1 and 2 above and by other relevant facts and circumstances, and to make recommendations to His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the United States for an interim handling of these problems as well as for their permanent solution.

“4- To make such other recommendations to His Majesty’s Government and the Government of the United States as may be necessary to meet the immediate needs arising from conditions subject to examination under paragraph 2 above, by remedial action in the European countries in question or by the provision of facilities for emigration to and settlement in countries outside Europe.”

“It will be observed,” President Truman said, “that among the important duties of this committee will be the task of examining conditions in Palestine as they came upon the problem of Jewish immigration. The establishment of this committee will make possible a prompt review of the unfortunate plight of the Jews in those countries in Europe where they have been subjected to persecution, and a prompt examination of questions related to the rate of current immigration into Palestine and the absorptive capacity of the country. The situation faced by displaced Jews in Europe during the coming winter allows no delay in this matter. I hope the committee will be able to accomplish its important task with the greatest speed.”