President Truman today expressed support for the Jewish Agency proposal for an independent Jewish state within Palestine, and urged immediate initiation of “substantial immigration” into Palestine.
The contents of his 1,100-word statement were communicated last night to Prime Minister Attlee by cable, Charles G. Ross, Presidential press secretary, announced.
The President stated his “deep regret” at the adjournment of the meetings of the Palestine Conference in London and reviewed his Administration’s record of efforts in the Palestine situation. Pointing to his lack of support of the “federalization plan,” Mr. Truman devoted attention to the Jewish Agency proposal for “a viable Jewish state,” and immediate issuance of certificates for 100,000 Jewish immigrants.
“From the discussion which has ensued,” said the President, “it is my belief that a solution along these lines would command the support of public opinion in the United States. I cannot believe that the gap between the proposals which have been put forward is too great to be bridged by men of reason and goodwill. To such a solution our Government could give its support.”
REITERATES PLAN TO LIBERALIZE U.S. IMMIGRATION LAWS
Three recommendations were made by the President, headed by immediate beginning of immigration into Palestine. “In view of the fact that winter will come on before the Conference can be resumed, I believe and urge that substantial immigration into Palestine cannot await a solution to the Palestine problem and that it should begin at once. Preparations for this movement have already been made by this government and it is ready to lend its immediate assistance.”
The President again urged liberalization of the immigration laws of the United States and other countries for admission of displaced persons. “I am prepared to make such a recommendation to the Congress,” he declared, “and to continue as energetically as possible collaboration with other countries on the whole problem of displaced persons.”
In his third proposal, Mr. Truman stated willingness “to recommend to the Congress a plan for economic assistance for the development” of Palestine should a workable solution for Palestine be devised.
“In the light of the terrible ordeal which the Jewish people of Europe endured during the recent war and the crisis now existing, I cannot believe that a program of immediate action along the lines suggested above could not be worked out with the cooperation of all people concerned. The Administration will continue to do everything it can to this end,” he said.
FULL TEXT OF PRESIDENT TRUMAN’S STATEMENT
The full text of President Truman’s statement, as released this morning by the White House, reads as follows:
I have learned with deep regret that the meetings of the Palestine Conference in London have been adjourned and are not to be resumed until Dec. 16, 1946. In the light of this situation it is appropriate to examine the record of the Administration’s efforts in this field, efforts which have been supported in and out of Congress by members of both political parties, and to state my views on the situation as it now exists.
It will be recalled that when Mr. Earl Harrison reported on Sept. 29, 1945, concerning the condition of displaced persons in Europe, I immediately urged that stops be taken to relieve the situation of these persons to the extent at least of admitting 100,000 Jews into Palestine. In response to this suggestion the British Government invited the Government of the United States to cooperate in setting up a joint Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry, an invitation which this Government was happy to accept in the hope that its participation would help to alleviate the situation of the displaced Jews in Europe and would assist in finding a solution for the difficult and complex problem of Palestine itself. The urgency with which this Government regarded the matter is reflected in the fact that a 120-day limit was set for the completion of the committee’s task.
The unanimous report of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry was made on April 20, 1946, and I was gratified to note that among the recommendations contained in the report was an endorsement of my previous suggestion that 100,000 Jews be admitted into Palestine. The Administration immediately concerned itself with devising ways and means for transporting the 100,000 and caring for them upon their arrival. With this in mind, experts were sent to London in June, 1946, to work out provisionally the actual travel arrangements. The British Government cooperated with this group, but made it clear that in its view the report must be considered as a whole and that the issue of the 100,000 could not be considered separately.
EMPHASIZES U.S. POLITICAL PARTIES OPPOSE “FEDERALIZATION PLAN”
On June 11, I announced the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Palestine and related problems, composed of the Secretaries of State, War and Treasury, to assist me in considering the recommendations of the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry. The alternates of this Cabinet Committee, headed by Ambassador Henry F. Grady, departed for London on July 10, 1946, to discuss with British Government representatives how the report might best be implemented.
The alternates submitted on July 24, 1946, a report, commonly referred to as the Morrison Plan, advocating a scheme of provincial autonomy which might lead ultimately to a bi-national state or to partition. However, opposition to this plan developed among members of the major political parties in the United States–both in the Congress and throughout the country. In accordance with the principle which I have consistently tried to follow, of having a maximum degree of unity within the country and between the parties of major elements of American foreign policy, I could not give my support to this plan.
I have, nevertheless, maintained my deep interest in the matter and have re- peatedly made known and have urged that steps be taken at the earliest possible moment to admit 100,000 Jewish refugees to Palestine.
In the meantime, this Government was informed of the efforts of the British Government to bring to London representatives of the Arabs and Jews, with a view to finding a solution to this distressing problem. I expressed the hope that as a result of these conversations a fair solution of the Palestine problem could be found. While all the parties invited had not found themselves able to attend, I had hoped that there was still a possibility that representatives of the Jewish Agency might take part. If so, the prospect for an agreed and constructive settlement would have been enhanced.
The British Government presented to the conference the so-called Morrison Plan for provincial autonomy and stated that the conference was open to other proposals. Meanwhile, the Jewish Agency proposed a solution of the Palestine problem by means of the creation of a viable Jewish state in control of its own immigration and economic policies in an adequate area of Palestine instead of in the whole of Palestine. It proposed furthermore the immediate issuance of certificates for 100,000 Jewish immigrants. This proposal received widespread attention in the United States, both in the press and in public forums.
BELIEVES JEWISH STATE SCHEME WOULD COMMAND SUPPORT IN UNITED STATES
From the discussion which has ensued it is my belief that a solution along these lines would command the support of public opinion in the United States. I can not believe that the gap between the proposals which have been put forward is too great to be bridged by men of reason and goodwill. To such a solution our government could give its support.
In the light of the situation which has now developed, I wish to state my views as succinctly as possible:
1. In view of the fact that winter will come on before the conference can be resumed, I believe and urge that substantial immigration into Palestine cannot await a solution to the Palestine problem and that it should begin at once. Preparations for this movement have already been made by this government and it is ready to lend its immediate assistance.
2. I state again, as I have on previous occasion, that the immigration laws of other countries, including the United States, should be liberalized with a view to the admission of displaced persons. I am prepared to make such a recommendation to the Congress and to continue as energetically as possible collaboration with other countries on the whole problem of displaced persons.
3. Furthermore, should a workable solution for Palestine be devised, I would be willing to recommend to the Congress a plan for economic assistance for the development of that country. In the light of the terrible ordeal which the Jewish people of Europe endured during the recent war and the crisis now existing, I cannot believe that a program of immediate action along the lines suggested above could not be worked out with the cooperation of all people concerned. The Administration will continue to do everything it can to this end.
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