British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 101. Annexure III: Statement made in the House of Commons on 13th November, 1945 By Mr. Ernest Bevin, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Continued)

CHAPTER II.

(3) To hear the views of competent witnesses and to consult representative Arabs and Jews on the problems of Palestine as such problems are affected by conditions subject to examination under paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 above, and by other relevant facts and circumstances, and to make recommendations to His Majesty's Government and to the Government of the United States for ad interim handling 0£ those problems, as well as for their permanent solution.

(4) To make such other recommendations to His Majesty's Government, and the Government of the United States, as may be necessary to meet the immediate needs arising from conditions subject * to examination under paragraph 2 above, by remedial action in the European countries in question, or by the provision of facilities for emigration to, and settlement in, countries outside Europe.

Those are the terms of reference. The procedure of the Committee will be determined by the Committee themselves and it will be open to them, if they think fit, to deal simultaneously, through the medium of sub-committees, with their various terms of reference. The Committee will be invited to deal with the matters referred to in their terms of reference with the utmost expedition. In complying with the second and fourth paragraphs of their terms of reference, the Committee will presumably, take such steps as they consider necessary in order to inform themselves of the character and magnitude of the problem created by the war. They will also give consideration to the problem of settlement in Europe, and to possible countries of disposal. In the light of their investigations, they will make recommendations to the two Governments for dealing with the problem in the interim until such time as a permanent solution can be submitted to the appropriate organ of the United Nations.

The recommendations of a Committee of Inquiry such as will now be set up, will also be of immense help in arriving at a solution of the Palestine problem. The Committee will, in accordance with the first and third paragraphs of their terms of reference, make an examination, on the spot, of the political, economic and social conditions which are at present held to restrict immigration into Palestine, and, after consulting representative Arabs and Jews, submit proposals for dealing with these problems. It will be necessary for His Majesty's Government, both to take action with a view to securing some satisfactory interim arrangements, and also to devise a. policy for permanent application thereafter. This inquiry will facilitate the finding of a solution which will, in turn, facilitate the arrangements for placing Palestine under trusteeship.

So far as Palestine is concerned, it will be clear that His Majesty's Government cannot divest themselves of their duties and responsibilities under the Mandate while the Mandate continues. They propose, in accordance with their pledges, to deal with the question in three stages.

(i) They will consult the Arabs with a view to an arrangement which will ensure that pending the receipt of the ad: interim recommendations which the Committee of Inquiry will make on the matter there is no interruption of Jewish immigration at the present monthly rate.

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