"Most Unfortunate"

Like men walking on eggs, negotiators were threading their delicate way toward solution of the Palestine problem. British-Arab talks had ended quietly after a month of discussion, to be resumed Dec. 16 (with Jewish participation, it was hoped). In London the Jewish Agency dickered for release of its leaders in Palestine, in return for a promise to suppress terrorists. Arabs announced a plan (unacceptable to the Jews) to make Palestine a permanent Arab state; nevertheless, behind the scenes, Jews and Arabs were closer to compromise than they had been for months.

At that point President Truman clomped back on the scene, twirling his eggbeater. In his Yom Kippur statement Truman called on the British to permit immediate "substantial" Jewish immigration into Palestine, and to adopt the Jewish Agency plan for a separate Jewish state in part of Palestine.

The British Government called the statement "most unfortunate," said it "may well jeopardize a settlement in Palestine." In a towering rage, mild Clement Attlee, British Prime Minister, sent a sharp personal note of protest to Truman, went to his country home, Chequers, to cool off for the weekend. Britons professed to fear that Truman's statement would incite Palestine Jews to new disorders and uncompromising demands. The Jewish underground army had already ended the "truce" of nonviolence. Arab leaders angrily attacked the Truman plan, said it could only be forced through if backed by half a million U.S. troops.

Behind British anger lay a new determination that Britain should speak for itself and not obediently follow every U.S. lead, at least until the U.S. was ready to assume a practical share of responsibility for the security of strategic areas such as the Middle East. The British, who are painfully learning more & more about U.S. domestic politics, decided to postpone the Palestine talks until after the U.S. congressional elections.

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