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U.S. Favors Jewish State in Palestine if It Can Be Established Peaceably, Truman Says

August 17, 1945
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The United States Government took a position at the Potsdam Conference of the “Big Three” in favor of a National Jewish State in Palestine if it could be peaceably established and maintained, President Truman today told a press conference. He added that he did not wish to contemplate the sending of 500,000 soldiers to maintain such a State.

Confirming that he had discussed the Palestine question with former Prime Minister Churchill and with Prime Minister Attlee, President Traman said that the discussions were continuing. He emphasized that the Palestine issue had not been discussed with Marshal Joseph Stalin.

The American view, the President stated, was that we wanted to let as many Jews as possible in to Palestine, and that the matter will be diplomatically worked out with the British and the Arabs.

The President’s statement today was interpreted in various circles as an official denounciation of the British White paper which closes the doors of Palestine to Jewish immigration. It was emphasized that this is the first time that the United States Government has gone so far.

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