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All to Be Introduced into Senate to Reiterate Traditional U.S. Palestine Policy

March 22, 1948
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Members of Congress, dissatisfied with the American abandonment of Palestine partition, will press a bill to reaffirm the United States Government’s traditional pro-Jewish attitude on Palestine and expressing Confessional opposition to the new policy, it was indicated here over the week-end. ?n. Owen Brewster of Maine stated that he expects to introduce such a bill into the ?per house this week and other Representatives and Senators ore expected to rally its support.

This development became known here after the release of a statement by Secretary of State George C. Marshall explaining the reasons for the sudden American es##usal of a U.N. trusteeship for Palestine. It was also learned here today that edge Samuel I. Rosen man, former special advisor to President Roosevelt, yesterday ?inferred with President Truman at the White House. It is assumed that they discussed the new aspects of the Palestine situation.

Determination on the part of the Administration to use the greatest pressure a pushing its trusteeship plan was indicated in high circles here. It was understood ?at should the Soviet Union use its veto power at the Security Council to block the residential proposal, the U.S. would poll the 57 member states of the U.N. on a special ?session of the General Assembly which would probably be held some time in April.

The policy switch was bitterly attacked by Harold E. Stassen, Republican residential aspirant, who labelled it an “invitation to international anarchy.” earlier, Sen. Robert A, Taft, another Republican hopeful, disapproved of the new plan, asserting that its acceptance would require the dispatch of an armed force to Palestine. Meanwhile, the number of members of both houses voicing opposition to the American trusteeship proposal continued to mount throughout the weekend.

Secretary Marshall’s statement, issued last night in Los Angeles, declared that the American plan was decided upon because of the need to maintain peace in Palestine, particularly after Britain surrenders the Mandate on 15. Pointing out that “no successor government will be in a position on that date to maintain law and order,” the Secretary added: “A. truce is essential. A military truce cannot be achieved under existing circumstances without a parallel truce in the political field. A Political truce, however, would bring us up to Kay 15 without elementary arrangements for keeping order in that situation.”

Stressing that the U.S. visualized a temporary trusteeship, he stated that the “trusteeship could be ended as soon as a peaceful solution can be found” and that its existence would not prejudice the eventual political settlement. “The United States has repeatedly stated that we were seeking a solution for Palestine within the framework of the United Nations and that we are not going to act unilaterally.”

Regarding the authorship of the new plan, Marshall said that the plan “appeared to me, after most careful consideration, to be the wisest course to follow. I recommended it to the President and he approved my recommendation.”

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