I AM VERY HAPPY that the request which I made for the
immediate admission of 100,000 Jews into Palestine has been unanimously
endorsed by the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry. The transference
of these unfortunate people should now be accomplished with the greatest
dispatch.
The protection and safe-guarding of the Holy places
in Palestine sacred to Christian and Jew is adequately provided the
report. One of the significant features in the report is that it aims
to insure complete protection to the Arab population of Palestine by
guaranteeing their civil and religious rights, and by recommending measures
for the constant improvement in their cultural, educational and economic
position.
I am also pleased that the Committee recommends in
effect the abrogation of the White Paper of 1939 including existing
restrictions on immigration and land acquisition to permit the further
development of the Jewish National Home. It is also gratifying that
the report envisages the carrying out of large scale economic development
projects in Palestine which would facilitate further immigration and
be of benefit to the entire population.
In addition to these immediate objectives the report
deals with many other questions of long range political policies and
questions of international law which require careful study and which
I will take under advisement.
NOTE: The President's request for the admission of
100,000 Jews into Palestine was made in a letter dated August 31, 1945,
to Prime Minister Artlee (see 1945 volume, this series, p. 469).
The report, released with the President's statement,
is printed in Senate Document 182 (79th Cong., 2d sess.).
On May 3 the White House made public a letter to the
President from the American members of the Executive of the Jewish Agency
expressing profound satisfaction with the Committee's action and pledging
cooperation in carrying out the program.