Evening star., 1946-09-11
Palestine Cant Solve
Jewish Issue Alone,
Arab Tells Farley
BY the Assoeioted Pres,

LoS1ON, ocpt. LII aTlS bey
Ell khoury, president of the
Syrian Chamber of Deputies,
declared today that the Jewish
problem was of worldwide con-
cern and that a solution could
not be found in Palestine alone.
Speaking for the Arab delegation
to the London Conference on the
future of the Holy Land, Faris Bey
said. mo part of Palestine should
be cut off to make home or state
for body of immigrants belong
ing to different nationalities.
His speech rejecting Zionist claims
to Palestine was in reply to an ad-
dress with which Prime Minister
Attlee opened the talks yesterday.
The Jewish problem, as such,'
Faris Bey declared, "is a world con-
Germ and therefore requires world
wide solution. Palestine has moth
ing to do with this problem, nor can
any solution be found in Pales-
tine"
Solution Held Possible.
Agreeing with Mr.. Attlee that it
was not impossible" to solve the
problem, he added:
THE natural solution dictated by
common sense is that the rights of
the people of Palestine should be
recognized to live securely in their
own country and determine their
fate in the same way as all other
people; and that the application of
the usual democratic principles
should not be denied to the people of
Palestine"
Declaring the Arabs wunld well
come every attempt at economic CO.
operation with Great Britain, Faris
Bey added:
But we are of the firm conviction
that no such cooperation, however
extensive. would give concrete re-
suits if any recognition of inde-
pendent political status were ac-
corded to the Jews in Palestine"
What We are concerned with"
he declared, is that the Arab states
shall have their rights recognized,
and no part of Palestine should be
cut off to make a home or state
for a body of immigrants belonging
to different nationalities.
Fears Continued Lawlessness.
Palestine long has been required
to be the instrument in the realiza-
ton of the dreams and ambitions of
political Zionists. Thus a heavy
burden has been laid upon her
shoulders. and a policy imposed
upon her which seems to decree that
her people should be forcibly up
rooted from their own land in order
that another people may take. their
place"
Complaining that acts of violence
constantly exposed inhabitants of
the Holy Land to danger, the Arab
spokesman expressed fear that con-
tinued lawleSsness would compel the
people to resort to their own means
of self-defense.
The Arab reply was delivered in
English to the gathering of Arabs
representing seven Middle Eastern
countries and to the British delega-
ton including Prime Minister Att
lee and Foreign Secretary Bevin.
Jewish representation still was
absent and member of the Jew
ish Agency said amy suggestion
that our attitude has changed is
wishful thinking" y /
Newspapermen, admitted to the
conference during Faris Bey's ad-
dress, we're ushered from the room
after he had finished speaking and
the conferees resumed their secret
discussions. e
Jews Drafting Reply.
Jewish agency officials, mean
while, were drafting reply to the
British governments latest COM
munication, in which the organiza-
ton was accused of Ignoring the
plight of European Jewry." The
reply, informed sources said, would
reiterate the agency's intention to-
discuss only Jewish statehood with
Britain and would point out that
Jewish leaders intended to remain
in London to be available for any
informal talks the government might
care to initiate as a preliminary
to full-scale Jewish participation in
the conference.
Communications also were being
exchanged by the Arab delegations
with representatives of the Palestine
Arabs higher executive. One Arab
source said that if the Higher Com
mittee's executive met the Grand
Mufti of Jerusalem in Alexandria
as requested 1t was possible they
subsequently would send represent
atives to the London Conference,
at least as observers
Bearded, robed delegates from the
Arabian deserts were staying, in
many cases, at the same hotels as
executive members of the Jewish
agency.