The impression that has arisen from yesterday's debate
in the British Parliament that America's interest in Palestine and the
settlement of Jews there is motivated by partisan and local politics
is most unfortunate and misleading.
The President's statement
of October 4, 1946, which was referred to in that debate, merely
reaffirmed the attitude toward Palestine and Jewish immigration into
Palestine which the United States Government has publicly expressed
since the summer of 1945. This attitude was and is based upon the desire
of the President to advance a just solution of the Palestine problem.
Our position on this subject was communicated to the British Government
by the President in his letter to Prime Minister Attlee on August 31,
1945, which was publicly released by the President on November 13, 1945,
when he announced the establishment of the joint Anglo-American
Committee of Inquiry. The statement of October 4, 1946, reiterated
this Government's position, which was already fully known to all parties
to the Palestine negotiations.
America's interest in Palestine is of long and continuing
standing. It is a deep and abiding interest shared by our people without
regard to their political affiliation.