President Truman said today that Secretary of State Byrnes and Prime Minister Attlee were conferring at present on the recommendation of the Anglo-American inquiry committee that 100,000 Jews be admitted to Palestine, but certain obstacles must be overcome before any decision can be reached.
The President’s statement came in reply to a question as to why there has been so much delay in carrying out the recommendation of the committee. He pointed out that he had recommended the admission of the 100,000, several months ago.
Earlier today an authoritative source here said that the United States has offered to transport the 100,000 Jews to Palestine from displaced camps in Germany, and to aid in their resettlement, provided Great Britain admits the Jews.
This Government is prepared also to offer technical and financial assistance in the rehabilitation of the displaced Jews, but does not consider this the major problem.
It is understood that Prime Minister Attlee, in discussions with the United States Government, never raised the question of disarming the resistance forces in Palestine, and therefore withdrawal of this reported condition by the British, as a prerequisite to permitting entrance of the 100,000 was not under consideration.
American military aid likewise was never requested by the British, according to other informed sources, and no such request is expected. In the light of these circumstances it is believed that the United States considers that the decision as to the immigration of the 100,000 now rests with the British.
No announcement on the matter is expected until after June 20, the date set by the State Department for receipt of comment from Jews and Arabs on the report of the Anglo-American Committee. It is known that in addition to replies already received from interested Jewish organizations, the Department has received some Arab answers, despite previous Arab statements refusing cooperation in the consultations.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
