ARABS OPPOSE BRITISH PLAN

Chronicle (Levin), 13 September 1946, Page 5

ARABS OPPOSE BRITISH PLAN

WILL NOW MAKE THEIR OWN PROPOSALS FOR PALESTINE i Received Friday, 9.40 a.m. LONDON, Sept. 12. The Press Association learns tliat, with the. exception of Yemen, Ihe Arai) Slates' expressed views at the Palestine conference 011 Ihe British plan for provineial autonomy were all cfpposcd 1o it. It is expected that Yemen will also oppose it when the conference again meets toniglit, after which the Arabs will mahe their own proposals for the Government 's eonsideration.

i , There is no indication so far that 1 Lhe Jews intend to take part in the conference. Position of Jews Dr. Nahum Goldman, the United States representative of the Jewish Agency, told the Press Association that the Jews had informed the British Government tiiat, unless partition were accepted as a basis for discussion — without committing the Government — Jewish participation in the conference would be purposeless. Ile said that the Jews had worked out the possible area which they were prepared to submit to the conference. It would necessarily be elastic, but it must be an area in which adequate liumbers of Jews could settle and establish a self-governing, independent community. Dr. Goldman said he considered that within a few years the European Jewish problem would involve 500,000 to 000,000 Jews leaving Europe, some for other countries but the bulk would wish to settle in Palestine. In addition there was the position of Jews in Arab countries. The Jews would like to bring them under the Jewish State. The Jews would prefer to reach an agreement with England and the Arabs which could be finally approved by United Nations.

The Jevis were ready to come into the conference the moment Britain was prepared to discuss partition. In Jerusalem Hussein Khalidi, the secretary of the Palestine Arab Higher Executive, commenting on Mr. Attlee's speech to the Palestine Conference, said: "We are not making any more concessions. We have reached the limit of human endurance. We have been Watching the Zionist danger looming like a thunderstorm for the past 30 years." Stern Gang Threat Following the Stern Gang's threat to kill him before he leaves for England, it is officially announced that Sir John Shaw, retiring Chief Secretary, will be the guest of the High Commissioner, Sir Alan Cunningham, at the heavily guarded Government House for the remainder of his stay in Palestine. Sir John Shaw's appointment terminates next week. The Stern Gang, in a "communique," which was posted up in Tel Aviv, took the responsibility for murdering Sergeant Martin, of the Criminal Investigation Department, in Haifa on September 7, and for attacking the area security office at Tel Aviv on the same day, in which Major Desmond Doran was killed and his wife seriously injured.