Evening star., 1947-10-12
America and Palestine

America and Palestine
In its first formal policy statement to
the General Assemblys 57-nation Pales-
tine Committee, the United States, despite
some reservations, has placed itself squarely
on the side of partition and large-scale
expansion of Jewish immigration into the
Holy Land. This clears away one of the
biggest question marks hanging over the
problem. What remains to be learned now
is the Russian attitude When that is de-
fined, the United Nations and the world at
large will have far better idea of what to
expect from the effort to work out peace
full settlement.
1t is scarcely to be doubted that our Gov
ernment has embraced the majority plan
of the United Nations Special Committee
on Palestine only after the most careful
deliberation. The heart of that plan is
partitioning that would create two inde-
pendent states, one Arab and the other
Jewish. Each would be separate political
entity, but they would be economically
united. They would come into being over
transitional period of about two years,
during which time the British mandate
would be ended and 10000 additional Jews
from abroad-most of them from Europe
would be allowed to enter their new coun-
try. AS our policy statement makes clear,
the United. States believes that this pro-
posal needs certain amendments and
geographical notifications, but we stand
behind the essentials after having given
due consideration to the bitterly conflict
ing Arab-Jewish views
The statement makes clear, moreover,
that the United States-Which wants the
General Assembly to recommend a solution
at this sessions aware that partition
ing is likely to require special measures to
maintain law and order in the Holy Land.
In this connection, it holds that the Brit
lSh, despite their recent notice that they
plan to withdraw soon from Palestine
whether there is settlement or not and
that they reserve the right to decide
whether to participate in any enforcement
action that may be needed, cannot give
up their responsibility as the mandatory
power at this stage. Nevertheless, the
American position recognizes that the
United Nations must share in the reSpon-
Sibility during the transition to independ-
ence. Accordingly, we have declared our
selves willing to take part in any concerted
U. N. program to effectuate workable
settlement not merely through economic
cooperation, but also by contributing
manpower if police or constabulary force
is necessary.
This represents the first time. that the
United States has ever offered to help solve
the problem in terms of force if force is
required. 1t has done so, however on the
cautious assumption that not much force,
if any, will be needed, and on the signifl-
cant condition that in case it is needed
it will be "recruited on a volunteer basis
by the United Nations" What is basically
assumed in all this is that the Arab League
states-despite the threats made by their
spokesmen-will refrain from armed vio-
lence and live up to their obligations under
the U. N. Charter.
The assumption here is obviously large
one, and our policy statement does not
undertake to answer what our position will
be If the situation does not work out that
way and if we find that much more will be
needed than volunteer constables or police
men. Apparently that is bridge to be
crossed when and If we come to it, We
may never come to it. There are many
reasons to believe that the Arab threat is
less serious than it sounds, and If Russias
views on the problem run parallel to ours,
there will be good cause to hope for
relatively peaceful settlement.
In any event, the United States has taken
its stand We have been committed for
many years to the idea of establishing
national home for Jews in the Holy Land.
There is no perfect or easy formula avail
able for that, but we have cast our vote for
one that most members of special United
Nations committee have judged to be the
best possible. If Russia votes the same
way, If the overwhelming majority of the
General Assembly votes that way, too, and
IT all parties concerned work together with
good will, a solution of the problem of
Palestine-one of the worlds most COM
plex and explosive-will have been pre-
sented that offers more promise than any
other suggested up to now.