Evening star., 1947-02-25
Bevin Says Truman Wrecked
Palestine PorIey by Statement
During Congressional Election
Cites Plea Lost Fall
To Admit 100, 900
Jews to Holy Land
BY the Associated Press

Secretary Ernest Bevln charged
today that President Truman
wrecked negotiations for a
peaceful settlement of the Pal
estine problem by calling for i'm
mediate admission of 100000
Jews to the Holy Land during the
congressional election campaign
last fall.
Opening a House of Commons
debate on the Holy Land question
Mr.. Bevin declared there was still
a chance of settling it outside the
United Nations.
Mr.. Bevin said he was engaged
in crucial negotiations with Jews
and Arabs last October.
AT that stage" he said, things
looked more hopeful and there was
a feeling-I don't think I over
estimate it-that 7 had the right
approach at last, but what hap
pened?
Tells of Appeal to Byrnes.
IT went back to the Paris peace
conference and the next day.
think it was Atonement Day or one
special day of the Jewish religion
the Prime Minister telephoned me
at midnight and told me the Presi-
dent Of the United States was going
to issue another statement on this
100000"
Mr. Bevin paused and then said
slowly:
II think the country and the
world ought to know this: I went
next morning to the Secretary of
State, Mr.. Byrnes, and told him how
far I had got the day before, and
that I believed we were on the road,
If only they would leave us alone.
81 begged that the statement
should not be issued, but I was told
that if it was not issued by Mr..
Truman a competitive statement
would be issued by Mr.. CThomas e.
Dewey"
president Truman early in
October cabled Prime Minister
Attlee his belief that substantial
immigration into Palestine can
not await solution to the Pales-
tine problem and that il should
begin at once" He promised
United States assistance to an
immigration movement and
pledged American support for
any future workable solution"
for the Jews and Arabs of Pales-
tine. Speaking strongly in favor
Of a partition plan put forward
by the Jewish Agency, the Presi-
dent urged that the Jews be given
largely independent state "in
an adequate area of Palestine"
and that Britain agree to issue
Immediately certificates for 100,-
900 Jewish immigrants. The re-
quest obviously angered the
British at that time)
Subject of Elections.
Amid cries of hear hear" from
other members of Parliament, Mr.
Bevin declared:
"I really must point out that in
international affairs I cannot settle
things if my problem is to be made
the subject of local elections"
When the cheering died down, he
added:
IT hope I am not saying anything
to cause bad feeling in the United
States, but feel SO intense about
this. When you have got vexed
problem with a thousand years of
different religions, it has got to be
handled with the greatest detail and
the greatest care. They can
lead to civil war before you know
where you are"
Despite his protests, Mr.. Bevin
said, Mr. Trumans statement was
issued, land the whole thing was
spoiled"
The Foreign Secretary said there
is a chance of settlement yet, If
people will come off their arbitrary
position, without going to the
United Nations"
Question of Milliens.
'T am still open to try" he de-
clared. But he added:
eff it was only a question OF
alleviating Europe of 100000 Jews,
I believe settlement could be found
80" Unfortunately, that is not the
positions From the Zionist point of
view, 100000 is only a beginning.
The Jewish Agency talks in terms
of millions"
Earlier, after saying he had per-
suaded the Arabs of Palestine to
accept Jewish Immigrants at the
rate of $4,000 a year since 1945,
Mr.. Bevin said:
I'VE might have been able to have
done more for the Jews and in
creased this rate at that time Q945)
il the bitterness of feeling had not
been increased by American pres
sure for the immediate decision on
100000"
interrupted by cheers, he said he
g. DAT ECT7TNE pape A-6