Evening star., 1947-09-26
Text of British Statement

SlIlce developed clearly neceSSltateS
the termination of the mandate.
We accept this necessity and shall
willingly lay down the obligations
imposed upon us so that the goal of
independence may be brought within
realization.
6. 1t was made clear by Sir Alex
ander Cadogan at the special ses-
sion of the Assembly held earlier
this year that the United Kingdom
government would be in the highest
degree reluctant to oppose the As
sembly's wishes injregard to the fu-
ture Of Palestine At the same time
ne drew distinction between &C
cepting recommendation, in the
sense of not impeding its execu-
ton by others, and accepting respon-
sibility for carrying it out by means
OF a British administration and
British forces.
Ready to Cooperate.
7. The attitude of my government
remains as then stated. 1t is hard
ly necessary for me to emphasize
our readiness to cooperate with the
Assembly to the fullest possible ex-
tent, and I cannot easily imagine
circumstances in which we should
wish to prevent the application of
a settlement recommended by the
Assembly. The crucial question for
his majesty's government is its en-
forcement. About that I must say
a few words.
8. First, the United Kingdom gov
ernment are ready to assume the re-
sponsibilitY for giving effect to any
plan on which agreement is reached
between the Arabs and the Jews
Second, If the Assembly should rec
ommend policy which is not ac-
ceptable to the Jews and the Arabs
the United Kingdom government
would not feel able to implement it.
Then it would be necessary to pro-
vide for some alternative authority
to implement it.
8. His majesty's government are
not themselves prepared to under
take the task of imposing policy
in Palestine by force of arms. Like
wise, in considering any proposal to
the effect that his majesty's govern
ment should participate with others
in the enforcement of a settlement
they must take into account both
the inherent justice of the settle
ment and the extent to which force
would be required to give effect to it.
Settlement Is Common Aim.
10. I repeat again, that his ma
jesty's government have determined
to base their policy on the assump-
ton that they must lay down the
mandate, under which they have
sought for Is years to discharge their
obligations to facilitate the growth
of the Jewish national home and
to protect the interests of the Arab
population. In order that there may
be no misunderstanding of the atti-
tude and policy of Britain, I have
been instructed by his majesty's gov
ernment to announce with all
solemnity that they have conse-
quently decided that in the absence
of settlement they must plan for
an early withdrawal of British forces
and of the British administration
from Palestine.
IL. In conclusion, I may perhaps
be allowed to make one or two OBJ
servations on the task which now
confronts this committee. Our COM
mon aim is to bring about a settle
ment in Palestine which is likely to
endure because it is founded on the
consent of the peoples concerned.
earnestly hope that the United Ma
tions may have more success than
the United Kingdom has had in per-
suading the two peoples to COOP
crate in attaining their independ-
ence. The United Kingdom delega-
tion will place at the disposal of the
committee any experience or knowl-
edge they have which may help it
In its task. 1t is also my hope that
the statement I have just made will
contribute to this end. May I ven-
ture to add that If, however, no
basis of consent for a settlement can
be found, it seems to me of the
highest Importance that any recon-
mendations made by the General
Assembly should be accompanied by
clear definition of the means by
which they are to be carried out.