Evening star., 1946-08-13
Text of Palestine Statement
Britain Cites Traditional Friendship and
Sympathy for Prosecuted Jewish People


this is their only road to safety. In
all this process the Jaws and regula-
tions of the countries concerned are
ignored; identity and ration cards,
travel documents, ETC., are forged on
large scale; food. clothing, medical
supplies and transport, provided by
UNRRA and other agencies for the
relief of suffering in Europe are
diverted to the maintenance of what
is openly described as the under
ground railway to Palestine
His majesty's government have
been distressed to receive reports of
persecution and pogroms against
Jews in Eastern and Southeastern
Europe. 1t is tragic situation that
in countries which have been
liberated by Allied-including British
arms and sacrifice, the very anti
Semitism against which we fought
should raise its ugly head. 1t is to
be hoped that the governments of
the countries concerned will bring
this shame to sharp and decisive
END.
Danger to Law and Order.
Apart from its illegality, the i'm
migration and traffic to Palestine is
a source of grave danger to law and
order in Palestine. The reception
and guarding of large numbers of
illegal immigrants places a severe
strain on the administration. Their
arrival has greatly increased tension
between the Arabs and Jewish COM
munities in Palestine. And since
there is evidence that the terrorist
element among the Jews has been
reinforced from the ranks OF the
illegal immigrants, their promiscu-
Gus introduction clearly cannot be
tolerated any longer.
AS the mandatory power for Pales-
tine, his majesty's government have
responsibilities towards the popula-
tion of that country. 1t Is obviously
not in the interests OF Palestine gen.
orally that such illegal activities
should be allowed to continue.
The recent increase in illegal i'm
migration-which sets aside consid-
Grafton Of priority and equity-is
also operating with great unfairness
towards those Jews who would
otherwise have been able to enter
Palestine legally under the quota
and much suffering has arisen from
this cause.
Even Jews long resident in Pales-
tine who have succeeded In tracing
near relatives living In distressing
conditions in Europe and who wish
to bring them to Palestine, are un-
able to do so because all potential
legal immigration has been pushed
aside by this illegal trafic. 1t Is
also matter of concern to his
maJesty's government that large
proportion Of the illegal immigrants
come from the countries of Eastern
Europe, and not from the displaced
persons centers In Germany, Aus
tria and Italy, to the emptying of
which the Anglo American Com
mittee Of Inquiry attached great
Importance.
The continuance of this traffic at
the present time is likely to have
an adverse effect on the hope OF a
general settlement In Palestine. It
Is well known that his ma ajesty's
government has accepted as a basis
for negotiation plan drawn up by
British and American experts which
is designed to provide for increased
immigration into Palestine under
conditions which would not disturb
the peace and economy OF the
country.
Reception to Cease.
For ell these reasons, his maies-
TVS government can no longer tol-
crate this attempt to force their
hand in framing new policy for
Palestine. They have made urgent
representatives to the governments
OF the countries from which the i'm
migrants are dispatched, in order
to stop the traffic at Its source. In
addition instructions have been
given to the Palestine authorities
that the reception into Palestine of
ihiAuBJ dIlbo IiIlSb CGdSE.
Accordingly. immigrants arriving
Illegally will henceforward be con-
veyed to Cyprus or elsewhere and
housed in camps there until de-
cision can be taken as to their fu-
ture. Meanwhile, it is fully under
stood that many OF the illegal i'm
migrants concerned have come
through conditions of great hardship
in circumstances not under their
control, and all reasonable measures
will be taken for their health and
well-being.
In announcing this decision, his
ma jesty's government wish to make
1t clear that, while they cannot toll
crate this attempt by minority OF
Zionist extremists to exploit the
Isufferings of unfortunate people In
order to create a situation prejudi-
cial to a just settlement, they are
deeply sensible OF the sufferings un-
dergone by the Jewish community
and are anxious to bring them to an
end as soon as possible.
1t Is clear that a permanent solu-
ton OF this complicated question can
only be brought about If Jews and
Arabs are prepared to enter discus
sions In a realistic and constructive
spirit in order to evolve a practical
scheme for harmonizing the claims
of these two historic peoples.
|