U.S. Will Consult Jews and Arabs Before Acting on Anglo-American Report on Palestine

The United States Government is studying the recommendations of the Anglo-American inquiry committee on Palestine and intends to consult with Arab and Jewish leaders before making any definite decision on the report, Acting Secretary of State Dean Acheson told the diplomatic representatives of five Arab states who called on him today to protest the committee report.

Acheson told his press conference that the Arab diplomats pointed out that on a number of occasions the United States Government had informed the Arab Governments that in its view no change should be made in the basic situation in Palestine without prior consultation with both Arabs and Jews. They further expressed the hope, the Acting Secretary declared, that the American Government would not adopt any policy calling for change in basic policy without such consultation.

Asked whether any negotiations are proceeding between the United States and British Governments to implement the recommendations of the committee, Acheson said that we are in consultation with the British Government on matters of procedure relating solely to the promised consultation with Arabs and Jews.

He declined to comment on an alleged statement by Bartley Crum, an American member of the committee, assailing the former Grand Mufti as a war criminal and one of the twenty-five most dangerous Moslems.

(Mr. Crum yesterday reiterated his charge that Foreign Minister Bevin had promised the members of the committee that his Government would adopt their recommendations, if they were unanimous. Earlier, a Foreign Office spokesman had stated that there was no record of such a statement by Mr. Bevin.)