THIS' DOCUMENT I S THE PROPERTY OF H I S BRITANNIC JAaJESTY' S GOVERNMENT) SB C R E T CP.(47) COPY NO. 32 1 6 t h J an u a r y , j 1 "I 3k 7 CABINET PALESTIKIS: Memorandum FUTURE POLICY by t h e S e c r e t a r y for the Colonies of State A t t h e m e e t i n g of t h e C a b i n e t ; on 1 5 t h J a n u a r y , t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y a d v a n c e d t h e p r o p o s a l t h a t we s h o u l d a d o p t , as t h e b a s i s of our f u t u r e p o l i c y in P a l e s t i n e , t h e p l a n f o r P r o v i n c i a l Autonomy amended i n s u c h a way t h a t i t p o i n t s t o w a r d s a n i n d e p e n d e n t u n i t a r y S t a t e and. i n c o r p o r a t e s a s much a s p o s s i b l e of t h e Arab p l a n . As t h e M i n i s t e r r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n of P a l e s t i n e , I m u s t s u b m i t t h a t , a f t e r much i n q u i r y a n d d i s c u s s i o n , I c a n n o t s e e a n y h o p e of a s e t t l e m e n t on t h e s e l i n e s . I r e a l i s e , of c o u r s e , character t h a t manor i s s u e s of an i n t e r n a t i o n a l a n d s t r a t e g i c a r e i n v o l v e d i n t h e a d o p t i o n of a n y s o l u t i o n of t h e P a l e s t i n e p r o b l e m a n d i n t h i s m e m o r a n d u m I am d e a l i n g m a i n l y w i t h t h e p o s i t i o n a s I sec i t from t h e p o i n t of view of t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h a t c o u n t r y , t h o u g h I am. n o t u n m i n d f u l o f these wider issues. F o r t h i s p u r p o s e I t h i n k t h a t i t may be o f u s e t o my c o l l e a g u e s i f I f i r s t r e f e r t o t h e t h r e e p l a n s now b e f o r e H . M . G . ( t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y s p r o p o s a l i s a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t w o o f t h e s e p l a n s ) a n d s t a t e my v i e w s r e g a r d i n g them. 1 2. The t h r e e p l a n s a r e : o u r own p l a n f o r a s y s t e m o f P r o v i n c i a l Autonomy: t h e Arab plan f o r a u n i t a r y Palestinian and p a r t i t i o n . S t a t e under Arab m a j o r i t y r u l e : Provineial Autonomy My c o l l e a g u e s a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e m a i n f e a t u r e s 3. of t h e P r o v i n c i a l Autonomy s c h e m e . T h i s p l a n was p u t f o r w a r d b y my p r e d e c e s s o r , w a s a d o p t e d b y t h e A n g l o - A m e r i c a n e x p e r t s , a n d was a n n o u n c e d i n p a r l i a m e n t by t h e L o r d P r e s i d e n t as the b a s i s f o r c o n s u l t a t i o n with the Arabs and the Jews. It was, however, always r e a l i s e d t h a t t h e primary requirement of t h e P r o v i n c i a l Autonomy p l a n w a s t h e w i l l i n g n e s s o f t h e two c o m m u n i t i e s to o p e r a t e i t a n d u n f o r t u n a t e l y both c o m m u n i t i e s have a l r e a d y v o i c e d t h e i r r e f u s a l t o do so. "Without s u c h w i l l i n g n e s s t h e plain i s a p a p e r p l a n o n l y . Its s u c c e s s d e p e n d s o n t h e c o - o p e r a t i o n of t h e t w o c o m m u n i t i e s a n d such c o - o p e r a t i o n c a n n o t , in e x i s t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s , be a c h i e v e d nor i s i t l i k e l y t o be a c h i e v e d f o r a l o n g t i m e t o come. So l o n g a s t h e p l a n l o a v e s t h e u l t i m a t e p o l i c y t o b e p u r s u e d in P a l e s t i n e f o r f u t u r e d e t e r m i n a t i o n i t w i l l c o n t i n u e to be r e j e c t e d by both p a r t i e s ; if that policy is declared in a d v a n c e i t w i l l b e r e j e c t e d e v e n m o r e v e h e m e n t l y b y o n e of them. The A r a b s w o u l d t a k e n o p a r t i n p r o v i n c i a l Autonomy t o be f o l l o w e d by p a r t i t i o n , t h e Jews would t a k e none i n P r o v i n c i a l Autonomy t o be f o l l o w e d by a u n i t a r y S t a t e . It h a s become c l e a r t h a t t h e Jews w i l l a c c e p t no s o l u t i o n which denies t h e i r claim to Statehood; moreover, t h e High Commissioner has p o i n t e d out 'the grave administrative d i f f i c u l t i e s i n h e r e n t i n t h e o p e r a t i o n of t h e p l a n h a v i n g regard to the present situation In P a l e s t i n e . I n view of t h e f u r t h e r f a c t t h a t t h e Government of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s h a s r e f u s e d c a t e g o r i c a l l y t o e n d o r s e i t , I do n o t c o n s i d e r t h a t i t can any l o n g e r be r e g a r d e d a s a p r a c t i c a l p r o p o s i t i o n . The A r a b Plan The A r a b p l a n v i s u a l i s e s P a l e s t i n e a s a S t a t e u n d e r 4. A r a b m a j o r i t y r u l e , i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t of w h i c h t h e J e w s w o u l d be r e p r e s e n t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e i r n u m b e r s , i . e . one Jew t o two A r a b s . I t i s designed to give the Arabs f u l l control b o t h o v e r t h e f r a m i n g of t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n and over any G o v e r n m e n t w h i c h may be c o n s t i t u t e d u n d e r i t . It is p r a c t i c a l l y a r e p e t i t i o n of t h e p l a n e m b o d i e d i n t h e W h i t e P a p e r o f 1939 b u t w i t h a d a i t i o n a l r e s t r i c t i o n s o n J e w i s h right s. bA I t has been argued, and not without f o r c e , t h a t t h e A r a b p l a n i s f o u n d e d on n o r m a l d e m o c r a t i c p r i n c i p l e s s i n c e t h e w i l l of t h e m a j o r i t y w i l l p r e v a i l . I t i s a.lso c l a i m e d t h a t i t i s i n c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f A r t i c l e 76 of t h e C h a r t e r of t h e U n i t e d H a t i o n s i n t h a t i t spells progressive development towards self-government in accordance w i t h t h e " f r e e l y e x p r e s s e d w i s h e s of t h e p e o p l e c o n c e r n e d " , u s i n g t h e "words as r e f e r r i n g t o t h e w i s h e s o f t w o - t h i r d s of t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f P a l e s t i n e . 6. On t h e o t h e r h a n d , w h i l e t h e p l a n c a n b e d e f e n d e d i n t h e o r y , t h e r e i s n o t t h e s l i g h t e s t hope of i t s p r o v i n g workable in p r a c t i c e . The J e w s w o u l d n o t e v e n be i n a minority in Palestine in the sense in which a p o l i t i c a l party may b e i n a m i n o r i t y u n d e r a n o r d i n a r y d e m o c r a t i c s y s t e m , w i t h p r o s p e c t s of c o m i n g o n e d a y i n t o p o w e r t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h u s b e i n g i n a p o s i t i o n t o i m p l e m e n t " t h e i r own p o l i c i e s . Future Jewish immigration, if any, being designated under the p l a n a s a m a t t e r t o be d e t e r m i n e d by t h e A r a b s a l o n e , t h e J e w s w o u l d b e c o n d e m n e d t o t h e s t a t u s of a p e r m a n e n t m i n o r i t y w i t h no such p o s s i b i l i t y i n view. 7. N o t o n l y d o e s t h e p l a n i n c o r p o r a t e e v e r y f e a t u r e of t h e W h i t e p a p e r o f 1939 t o w h i c h t h e J e w s t h e n t o o k e x c e p t i o n , b u t i t i n t r o d u c e s new c o n d i t i o n s e q u a l l y r e p u g n a n t t o J e w i s h sentiment. These i n c l u d e t h e p r o v i s i o n s t h a t no immigrant a r r i v i n g in P a l e s t i n e s h a l l have a note u n t i l he has r e s i d e d in the country f o r ten y e a r s and t h a t the Jewish e d u c a t i o n a l s y s t e m s h a l l be' s u b j e c t e d t o m a j o r i t y Arab c o n t r o l . I t c a n be s t a t e d u n h e s i t a t i n g l y t h a t n o t even t h e most m o d e r a t e Jew would be p r e p a r e d t o a c q u i e s c e f o r a moment i n t h e s t a t e of affairs visualised in the plan. I t would s p e l l t h e c e s s a t i o n of i m m i g r a t i o n , t h e a r r e s t of J e w i s h development in P a l e s t i n e , and t h e p e r m a n e n t s u b j u g a t i o n of t h e N a t i o n a l Home, w i t h i t s highly organised European p o p u l a t i o n and i t s e x t e n s i v e commercial a n d i n d u s t r i a l i n t e r e s t s , t o a b a c k w a r d Arab e l e c t o r a t e , l a r g e l y i l l i t e r a t e and avowedly i n i m i c a l t o i t s f u r t h e r progress. 8. . to agree While i t might be p o s s i b l e t o c e r t a i n m o d i f i c a t i o n s of to persuade their plan, the Arab there is States no 20Q p r o s p e c t of t h e i r c o n s e n t i n g t o w a i v e a n y of i t s t h r e e c a r d i n a l c o n d i t i o n s , m a j o r i t y c o n t r o l of t h e G o v e r n m e n t of P a l e s t i n e , Arab c o n t r o l o f J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n , a n d t h e e a r l y w i t h d r a w a l of m a n d a t o r y s u p e r v i s i o n . These f e a t u r e s w i l l be r e s i s t e d by t h e J e w s w i t h e v e r y r e s o u r c e w h i c h t h e y p o s s e s s . Were e f f e c t g i v e n t o t h e A r a b p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e p l a n s h o u l d be e n f o r c e d r e g a r d l e s s of J e w i s h o p p o s i t i o n , t h e i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t w o u l d be a n o r g a n i s e d r e v o l t on t h e p a r t of t h e latter, coupled w i t h a r e f u s a l to r e c o g n i s e or to pay t a x e s (of which they c o n t r i b u t e a t l e a s t t w o - t h i r d s ) to the Government t h u s constituted. The p o s i t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e w o u l d t h e r e b y be r e n d e r e d f a r worse even than i t i s today s i n c e the a d m i n i s t r a ­ t i o n a n d t h e Armed F o r c e s would h a v e t o d e a l n o t o n l y w i t h t e r r o r i s m b u t w i t h tho- o r g a n i s e d o p p o s i t i o n of t h e w h o l e Jewish population. ' I m p l e m e n t a t i o n of t h e f u r t h e r A r a b p r o p o s a l t h a t , h a v i n g p u t t h e p l a n i n t o o p e r a t i o n , H.M. G o v e r n m e n t s h o u l d w i t h d r a w and d e c l a r e P a l e s t i n e i n d e p e n d e n t w h e t h e r t h e Jews c o - o p e r a t e o r n o t , w o u l d mean a b a n d o n i n g t h e c o u n t r y t o c i v i l w a r , .a w a r w h i c h w o u l d h a v e w i d e r e p e r c u s s i o n s a s i t w o u l d p r o b a b l y l e a d t o a wave of p e r s e c u t i o n , d i r e c t e d a g a i n s t Jewish communities elsewhere throughout the Middle East. 9. I n my o p i n i o n , , t h e c o s t o f e n f o r c i n g t h i s p l a n w o u l d b e d i s o r d e r a n d b l o o d s h e d o n a s c a l e w h i c h we c o u l d n e v e r contemplate. I t w o u l d r a i s e a n i s s u e of first-class importance with t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s where t h e E x e c u t i v e and L e g i s l a t u r e woulu p r o b a b l y v i e w i t h one a n o t h e r in denunciation. There would a l s o be a d v e r s e r e a c t i o n s in I t v / o u l d m o r e o v e r , i n my v i e w , b e the Empire i t s e l f . . impossible for His M a j e s t y ' s M i n i s t e r s to defend the r e s u l t i n g p o s i t i o n e i t h e r in P a r l i a m e n t or in the c o u n t r y . I t would mean a g r o s s b e t r a y e d of t h e J e w s i f , a f t e r undertaking r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e o r i g i n a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t and s u b s e q u e n t s a f e g u a r d i n g o f t h e J e w i s h N a t i o n a l H o m e , we w e r e t o h a n d t h e m over t o t h e m e r c y of t h e A r a b s a s s u b j e c t s of a S t a t e , of Which, in a l l p r o b a b i l i t y , the M u f t i would be t h e Head, w i t h n o p o w e r of i n t e r f e r e n c e f r o m o u t s i d e . The p o l i c y w o u l d be i n d i a m e t r i c a l c o n f l i c t w i t h the u n d e r t a k i n g s g i v e n by t h e Labour P a r t y , p r i o r t o i t s a s s u m p t i o n of p o w e r , r e g a r d i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e N a t i o n a l Home. The p l a n proposed by the Foreign Secretary 10. The p l a n p r o p o s e d by t h e F o r e i g n S e c r e t a r y i s a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e t w o p l a n s w h i c h I h a v e d e s c r i b e d a n d , i n my o p i n i o n , h a s m o s t of t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e s of b o t h . He s u g g e s t s a n i n i t i a l p e r i o d of P r o v i n c i a l A u t o n o m y . I have already given r e a s o n s w h y , a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h my a d v i s e r s a n d w i t h t h e H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r , I do n o t b e l i e v e t h i s t o be p o s s i b l e . I am c i r c u l a t i n g t o my c o l l e a g u e s a. n o t e b y t h e H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r s e t t i n g - o u t t h e o b j e c t i o n s f r o m t h e p o i n t of v i e w of t h e Palestine Administration. Jewish r e f u s a l to operate the plan would be even more vehement were i t m o d i f i e d a s s u g g e s t e d so a s t o p o i n t t o a u n i t a r y S t a t e a n d s o a s t o i n c o r p o r a t e a n y of t h e main f e a t u r e s of t h e A r a b p r o p o s a l s . Nor do I b e l i e v e t h a t a u n i t a r y State in P a l e s t i n e is a p r a c t i c a b l e proposition. The g u l f b e t w e e n t h e two c o m m u n i t i e s h a s become t o o d e e p . 'Such a S t a t e m u s t mean t h e s u b o r d i n a t i o n of t h e J e w s t o t h e A r a b s , a n d t h e c o m p l e t e f r u s t r a t i o n of J e w i s h n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s ; any a t t e m p t a t s u c h s u b o r d i n a t i o n w o u l d , I am c o n v i n c e d , b r i n g a b o u t a s i t u a t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e i n w h i c h t h e J e w s w o u l d h a v e t o be h e l d i n s u b j e c t i o n b y f o r c e a n d by f o r c e alone. P a r t i t i on 11* I n my o p i n i o n , t h e o n l y r e a s o n a b l e P a l e s t i n e p r o b l e m i s t h a t r e c o m m e n d e d by t h e of I 9 3 6 , n a m e l y t h e p a r t i t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y s o l u t i o n of t h e Royal Commission between the A r a b s 9 ** 7 and the Jews. T h i s s o l u t i o n p o s s e s s e s an element of finality which is elsewhere absent. I t would give to each community a m a x i m u m d e g r e e o f p o w e r t o m a n a g e i t s own a f f a i r s a n d a minimum d e g r e e of p o w e r t o i n t e r f e r e i n t h e a f f a i r s o f t h e other. 12. C e r t a i n of -the o b j e c t i o n s t o P a r t i t i o n a r e f r e s h i n t h e m i n d s o f my c o l l e a g u e s ' f r o m t h e l a s t d i s c u s s i o n a n d I need not r e p e a t them h e r e . I would m e r e l y s a y t h a t I doubt whether t h i s p o l i c y would evoke such s e r i o u s repercussions as are sometimes foreshadowed. I n P a l e s t i n e , b e c a u s e of t h e r e c e n t d e t e r i o r a t i o n o f -Arab f e e l i n g , i t s implementation w o u l d u n d o u b t e d l y c a u s e some v i o l e n c e a n d d i s o r d e r o n t h e p a r t of t h e A r a b s , b u t t h i s may n o t b e o n s o l a r g e a s c a l e as has sometimes' been r e p r e s e n t e d . If a d e c i s i o n is not too long delayed, i t might even be confined to l o c a l r i o t i n g in the main towns. 13. I would be the l a s t p e r s o n to u n d e r - e s t i m a t e the d i f f i c u l t i e s of P a r t i t i o n and m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y o f f i n d i n g a p l a n of P a r t i t i o n w h i c h , w h i l e n o t d e m o n s t r a b l y u n f a i r t o t h e A r a b s , c o u l d b e r e g a r d e d as i n a n y way s a t i s f y i n g Zionist aspirations. I t cannot b e denied t h a t t h e scheme o f P a r t i t i o n p r e p a r e d b y t h e C a b i n e t C o m m i t t e e of" 1 9 4 4 Involves c e r t a i n s e r i o u s i n j u s t i c e s to the Arabs. I have s i n c e had a r e v i s e d scheme p r e p a r e d w h i c h o b v i a t e s , to some e x t e n t a t l e a s t , c e r t a i n of t h e s e i n j u s t i c e s , b u t w h e t h e r it d o e s so t o t h e e x t e n t n e c e s s a r y t o make t h e p l a n a c c e p t a b l e t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s I am u n a b l e t o s a y . But I b e l i e v e t h a t our o b j e c t should b e to p r e p a r e a scheme of p a r t i t i o n w h i c h d o e s t h e maximum p o s s i b l e j u s t i c e t o b o t h c o m m u n i t i e s and t h e n t o s t a n d u p o n t h i s scheme as our f u t u r e policy. 13. I r e a l i s e f u r t h e r t h a t u n d e r p a r t i t i o n we m a y n o t g e t a l l t h e s t r a t e g i c a d v a n t a g e s -which t h e C h i e f s o f S t a f f require.' I t i s n o t i m p o s s i b l e t h a t we m a y b e refused f a c i l i t i e s i n the Arab a r e a , s h o u l d i t not b e l i n k e d w i t h T r a n s - J o r d a n , o r t h a t t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s may c o n s i d e r that J e r u s a l e m and t h e s u r r o u n d i n g t e r r i t o r y s h o u l d b e p l a c e d under a j o i n t t r u s t e e s h i p in which His M a j e s t y ' s Government w o u l d o b t a i n no p a r t i c u l a r a d v a n t a g e s . But t h e s e a r e p o s s i b i l i t i e s w h i c h , i n my o p i n i o n , h a v e t o b e f a c e d a n d r e g a r d e d as t h e p r i c e of e s c a p e from our e x i s t i n g e m b a r r a s s m e n t s . 14. I n s h o r t , I c a n s e e i n P a r t i t i o n a hope of t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e P a l e s t i n e d i f f i c u l t i e s . , ' I can see none i n any o t h e r p l a n . I t i s t h e s o l u t i o n most, i n h a r m o n y w i t h t h e t r e n d of p u b l i c o p i n i o n and of t h e P r e s s i n t h i s c o u n t r y and i s t h a t m o s t l i k e l y t o win U n i t e d S t a t e s s u p p o r t and t h e e n d o r s e m e n t of t h e l a b o u r P a r t y . Otherwise, I ' r e g r e t that I c a n s e e l i t t l e hope of o r d e r or of sound a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . Conelusion 15. I t s e e m s q u i t e c e r t a i n t h a t w e c a n p u t n o new policy into effect in Palestine without reference to the United Nations. Such a r e f e r e n c e i s n e c e s s a r y i n s t r i c t law i f e i t h e r t h e A r a b p l a n o r P a r t i t i o n i s t o b e a d o p t e d ? i n t h e c a s e of p r o v i n c i a l autonomy a r e f e r e n c e m i g h t b e o b v i a t e d f o r a s h o r t t i m e , b u t we s h o u l d a l m o s t immediately be challenged, to produce a t r u s t e e s h i p agreement in r e s p e c t of t h e t e r r i t o r y . I t i s , moreover, probable t h a t even before t h i s c h a l l e n g e one of t h e A r a b S t a t e s ' w o u l d a p p e a l t o t h e Security Council. I t s e e m s t o me t h e r e f o r e t h a t t h e p r o b l e m b e f o r e u s i s n o t w h a t p o l i c y we s h a l l i m m e d i a t e l y i m p l e m e n t in P a l e s t i n e , h u t w h a t p o l i c y we s h a l l r e c o m m e n d t o t h e U n i t e d Nations for implementation. 16. I n my o p i n i o n , we s h o u l d now d e c i d e t o m a k e a l a s t a t t e m p t t o p r o d u c e a p l a n of P a r t i t i o n w h i c h does the l e a s t i n j u s t i c e to b o t h communities and, having p r o d u c e d s u c h a p l a n , recommend i t to t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , i n d i c a t i n g a t t h e same t i m e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s inherent in the a l t e r n a t i v e schemes. I m y s e l f f e e l i n some d o u b t how t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s w i l l v o t e o n t h i s i s s u e , b u t e v e n o n t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t i t w o u l d b e d e f e a t e d , we s h o u l d a t l e a s t have recommended what seems t o us t o b e t h e b e s t s o l u t i o n , and t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r r e j e c t i n g i t and f o r f i n d i n g an a l t e r n a t i v e s o l u t i o n would r e s t f a i r l y and squarely with the United Nations. I t w i l l be necessary t o make i t a b u n d a n t l y p l a i n t o them t h a t , i f t h e y r e j e c t P a r t i t i o n , t h e o n u s of p r o d u c i n g a n a l t e r n a t i v e solution i s on them. The p r e s e n t p o s i t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e is i n t o l e r a b l e and c a n n o t be m a i n t a i n e d j if the United N a t i o n s f a i l t o f i n d a n a n s w e r w h i c h we d e e m a c c e p t a b l e i t w i l l b e n e c e s s a r y t o c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r we s h o u l d n o t announce our i n t e n t i o n to withdraw from a s i t u a t i o n which w i l l have become impossible. 17. On t h e r e s u m p t i o n o f t h e C o n f e r e n c e we s h o u l d , I s u g g e s t t o my c o l l e a g u e s , a t t e m p t t o e x p l o r e w i t h b o t h p a r t i e s a l l the v a r i o u s p o s s i b i l i t i e s open, e x p l a i n the d i f f i c u l t i e s w h i c h e a c h p r e s e n t s and t r y t o l e a d them i n t h e d i r e c t i o n of a r e a s o n a b l e s c h e m e of P a r t i t i o n a s t h e b e s t and most e q u i t a b l e solution. A. C. J . Colonial 16th Office, January, S.W.I. 1947.