Second Thoughts on Palestine
The Government is wisely avoiding any precipitate action on the recommendations of the Palestine Committee of Enquiry, nor, to speak frankly, is any enthusiasm being shown about the Committee's report in any quarter. Two facts which have been insufficiently emphasised—and not emphasised at all in the report—are the immense financial burden that would be thrown on Great Britain if roo,000 Jews from Central Europe, mainly the old, the very young, and the infirm, were admitted into Palestine, and the presence in Arab countries today of some 400,000 Jews whose position would be far from enviable if the Palestine settlement were such as to antagonise the Arab world. There is, however, no reason as yet to assume that it will be. Both the British and the American Governments are seeking the opinions of Jews and Arabs on the report, and it may be taken for granted that after that further conversations between London and Washington will be entered on. It will be surprising if whatever settlement is ultimately reached bears any close resemblance to the Enquiry Committee's recommendations. The American Government has thought it well to point out officially that the report is only advisory.
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