Truman Hopes Palestine Solution Will Emerge from British Discussions with Jews, Arabs

The White House today issued a statement expressing President Truman’s hope that the forthcoming negotiations between the British Government and Arab and Jewish representatives will arrive at a fair solution of the Palestine problem.

The President also voiced the hope that action will be taken to aid the displaced Jews in Europe. He officially confirmed that he plans to ask Congress to approve the admission to the United States of a limited number of Jewish DP’s, in addition to those who can enter under the regular immigration quota.

The full text of the White House announcement, which was released as the President left for a 17-day vacation cruise in New England waters, follows:

“Although the President has been exchanging views with Mr. Attlee on the subject, this government has not presented any plan of its own for the solution of the problem of Palestine. It is the sincere hope of the President, however, that as a result of the proposed conversations between the British Government and Jewish and Arab representatives a fair solution of the problem of Palestine can be found and immediate steps can be taken to alleviate the situation of the displaced Jews in Europe.

“It is clear that no settlement of the Palestine problem can be achieved which will be fully satisfactory to all of the parties concerned and that if this problem is to be solved in a manner which will bring peace and prosperity to Palestine, it must be approached in a spirit of conciliation.

“It is also evident that the solution of the Palestine question will not in itself solve the broader problem of the hundreds of thousands of displaced persons in Europe. The President has been giving this problem his special attention and hopes that arrangements can be entered into which will make it possible for various countries, including the United States, to admit many of these persons as permanent residents.

“The President on his part is contemplating seeking the approval of Congress for special legislation authorizing the entry into the United States of a fixed number of these persons, including Jews.”

GOLDMANN DENIES REPORT AGENCY WILLING TO DISCUSS “CANTONIZATION”

Dr. Nahum Goldmann, in a statement telephoned from Paris to the Jewish Agency office here, today denied a Reuter report that he had expressed the Agency’s willingness to discuss “cantonization.” He said:

“The attitude of the Jewish Agency for Palestine has most emphatically been made clear to the British Government. The Jewish Agency is prepared to negotiate upon only one basis, namely, that of the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. The Agency is not willing to accept any cantonization scheme as a basis for discussion.”