STATEMENT ON PALESTINE

Chronicle (Levin), 26 February 1947, Page 5

STATEMENT ON PALESTINE

Press Assn.-

Foreign Minister Speaks in Commons

Bv Telearavh i

■Covvriahi

Received Wednesday. 11.20 a.m. LODDON, Feb. 25. In a statement on Palestine in the House of Commons today, theForeign Secretary, Mr. Ernest Bbtfin, strongly criticised Amerfca for ihterference in Palestine. Hecriticised both the American official statements on Palestine afid also the influence of the Jewish Agency which was largely domin-ai-ed from New York. Mr. Bevin said that Palestine must eventually become an inde-pbn-denf state but Dnited Nations must deci-de Whether it wbuld be a Jewish or Arab state witli safe- - gu'ards for the Jews, or a state balanced in mutual interests with Britain as the mandatory power but y>ho' could not make a decision. '1 want to s'ettle this. It is a sore point in the Middle East and one which might lead to much widerj trouble and might start us on the road to another war in another quarter of a century," said Mr. Bevin. Contifiuing, Mr. Bevin said that the Arabs, when told that Britain wanted to neeotiate a change in the 1939 agreement, asquiesced in 'he change' in the rate of Jewish immigration to 1500 mont.hly. Increased immigration might have been possibie if bitterness had not been added by America's pressure for an immediate inerease. It would be better if America had regard to the fact that Britain as the mandatory power carried the responsibility. Mr. Bevin said he was criticised in the United States for not accenting the Anglo-American committee's report but the United States accepted none of the report, except the point about the admission of 100.000 immigrants. If it was- onlv a humanitarian questi^n of admittihg 100.000 he believed the Arabs could be Persuaded to agreej a-nd a s^fl *impn4' Four d. but the| Jewish Agency talked in terms of! millinns