Evening star., 1947-02-27

Comment on Palestine
Shows u. S.-British Tie
London Statement on Trurnan Is
Probably Without Precedent
By Dapid laurence
1t Is evidence Of the informality and
intimacy which prevail between the
British and American Governments that
I government in London should be
speaking OF American politics as a mott
waiting factor In the decision of Presi.
dent Truman on the Palestinian cues.
ton and that the American President
should be making reply that the charge
Is unfounded.
In times gone by--that is, many wear.
ago-it would have been considered
quite an affront for friendly govern
ment to comment on matter so plainly
internal as the party politics Of this
country. But Prime Minister Attlee Of
the Labor government has been an OBJ
server in the debates in Parliament
under his distinguished predecessor,
Winston Churchill.
1t will be recalled that not so lonr
ago Mr.. Churchill expressed some irri-
tation when the question Of fixing the
boundaries Of Poland and other phases
OF the Polish controversy were up for
consideration. Mr.. Churchill didn't
hesitate to say that consideration Of
American politics had made the settle
ment Of that problem dificult for Mr..
Roosevelt. and he mentioned, with some
impatience, the influence of the Polish
vote IN the United States as a factor
IN the presidential elections Of 1914.
Comment by Officials Rare.
There have been occasions when
American observers, not necessarily ofYi-
cials, have called attention to activities
in British politics which have prompted
some expression Of public policy. But
it Is doubtful whether the records will
yield any public comment on British
politics by any American oficial and
certainly none from any American Sec.
retary Of State.
So perhaps the British and American
administrations of today have put aside
the formalities of previous procedure
and now speak right up when 1t comes
to explaining what goes on in the max
ing of foreign policy.
1t is, of course, not any surprise to
find that American interest In external
questions is sometimes related to domes-
tic politics. For many years Americans
OF Irish descent pleaded their cause
and obtained not only resolutions OF
sympathy at national party converl-
tions but spoke through Representatives
in Congress who had constituencies with
large Irish populations.
Way back when Britain was involved
in war with the Beers in South Africa
the Democratic Party pleased its Irish
American constituents by adopting
plank expressing sympathy with the
Beers.
To find the Palestinian question
entangled with American politics,
therefore, is in line with tradition. The
United States is made. up of many
groups which have their origin in other
lands. There are various societies COM
posed of descendants of European Inn
migrants. Whenever a question affect.
ing these same countries arises, it usual
ly means petitioning letters or com
munications, or resolutions from these
societies addressed to American mem-
5ers of Congress or officials of the State
Department. The inference always is
: that the voting power Of these Rroups
may be exercised to support their
pleas. l.
Perhaps the most important instance
OF behind-the-scenes influence of such
political groups occurred during World
War I. President Wilson undertook.
quite informally but nevertheless firmly,
to urge upon the British government a
settlement of the then turbulent Irish
question, and he pointed to the necessity
for welding American sentiment behind
the war issues rather than to allow irri-
tatlons to grow to the point where some
feeling for Britain inside the United
States would be alienated. It is be-
lieved that President Wilson did help in
shaping what was subsequently de-
termined upon as British policy in
Ireland.
Declaration by Balfour.
During the same period, Mr. Wilson
used mis- influence with Foreign Secre-
tary Balfour of the British government
to obtain declaration with respect to
the future of Palestine which was re-
garded as of the utmost Importance at
the time and was called The "Balfour
Declaration" There was no secret
about the fact that influential groups
in the United States brought about Mr..
Wilson'S action. a.
The question Of where political or
vote considerations begin and end, and
how much the actions of MIR. Wilson
or Mr.. Roosevelt or Mr.. Truman, respec-
lively, were swayed by a feeling that
the minority groups were asking for
justice or by desire to please a sub
stantial segment of the electorate is
not. OF course, susceptible of any ex-
plicit proof. 1t is fact that throughout
American history, American political
parties and substantial numbers of men
in the House and Senate have ex-
pressed sympathy with oppressed peo-
plies or with groups striving for
independence.
Quite often in our history the State
Department, in tactful and discreet but
nevertheless plain language, has indi-
Gated American sympathy with groups
seeking to improve their lot under
foreign rulers. This has been q policy
Of Republican as well as Democratic
Presidents, and not much new is added