LETTER TO BRITAIN SECOND ONLY TO ULTIMATUM

Chronicle (Levin), 3 May 1946, Page 5

LETTER TO BRITAIN SECOND ONLY TO ULTIMATUM

Press Assn.-

By Telegraph

■Copyright

Received Friday, 11.30 a.m. LONDON, May 2. The Arab Higher Committee, during a five-hour meeting in Jep-^lem, hammered out a four-point plan for the Palestine resistance to the Anglo-American Committee's findin\r.' The Arab Higher Committee, meeting on the eve of the Arab protest strike throughout Palestine, appointed a subcommittee to draft plans for, firstly, a civil disobedience campaign; secondly, mass meetings throughout Palestine on May 10; thirdly, an Arab national fund to finance the Arab cause in Palestine; and, fourthly, the mobilisation of Arab youth and Arab resources "in the service of the country." The secretary of the Arab Higher Committee, Dr. I'zzat Tannous, revealed that the committee to-day addressed a letter to Mr. Attlee, containing a warriing that the Arab Higher Committee rejected the Anglo-American Committee's recommendations. Dr. Tannous described the letter as "second only to an ultimatum." The letter said: "The implementation of the AngloAmerican Committee's recommendations threatens the national existence of the Arabs in Palestine. The Arab Higher Committee declares the determination of the Arabs to defend the country with all the means at their disposal. The Arab Higher Committee believes that the Anglo-American Committee's report is not the result of a free and innocent examination of the problem, but is the outcome of British and American policy. The report, in addition, is a violation of the rights of self-expression and the pledges given to the Arabs by the British. It is also a violation of the Atlantic Charter and the prineiples for which the Allies waged the war." The letter continues: "The Arabs, pending the decision of the British Government on the implementation -of the report, will proceed to organise their national forces, and prejmre all means for their defence in order to resume the national struggle." . It is reported from Beirut that all business is closing down to-morrow as a protest. Lebanese official public quarters i expressed strong resentment to the recommendations.