I have been asked by the United Kingdom Government to let you know
that they have been engaged in discussion with United States
representatives on the subject of the recent report of the Anglo-
American Committee [1] which recommended inter alia the immediate
admission of 100,000 Jews into Palestine. It seems to the United
Kingdom Government essential, if Arab opposition to any such plan
for dealing with Jews who desire to leave Europe is to be
overcome, that this particular proposal should be treated, not in
isolation, but as part of the main problem of dealing with
displaced persons and refugees in Europe, and that it should be
made clear that other contributions are being made towards the
solution of that problem. Further, on humanitarian grounds, in the
interests of efficient administration in ex-enemy territories and
on account of the political difficulties which arise from the
presence of displaced persons in the occupied zones in Europe, it
is most desirable that their numbers should be reduced as rapidly
as possible.

2. The United Kingdom Government consider that the first objective
should be to create in Europe conditions which are such that a
substantial number of the displaced persons can be resettled in
circumstances enabling them to live free from discrimination and
oppression. It is recognised, however, that whatever steps can be
taken to this end, there will still remain a substantial number of
persons for whom it will be necessary to provide outside Europe.

The Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States intend
to continue their efforts in the negotiations they are now
conducting within the framework of the United Nations to bring
into existence an international organisation which will be able to
deal effectively with the whole problem. But the creation of this
machinery is bound to take time and meanwhile it is important to
proceed at once with measures designed to aid the resettlement of
displaced persons, including Jews, overseas.

3. The main elements of the plan are as follows:

(a) In the first place, the strongest possible support should be
given to the appeal which is to be made to the United Nations at
the forthcoming General Assembly, calling upon all Member
Governments to consider what contribution they can make by
receiving in territories under their control a proportion of the
displaced persons in Europe, including Jews.

(b) The United Kingdom Government have already accepted a
substantial commitment in promoting the resettlement of Polish
troops unwilling to return to Poland, the number involved being
about 228,000 apart from civilians.

(c) As regards the United States, under existing quotas over
150,000 European immigrants can be admitted for permanent
residence each year. Entry is also available to substantial
additional numbers in classes exempt from quota restrictions. The
total of the quotas from European countries from which the
majority of the displaced persons originate and of the average
number of non-quota immigrants from these same countries is some
53,000 each year, and it is assumed that in the next few years the
majority of the immigrants will be Jews and other displaced
persons. In addition, it is understood that the United States
Administration are prepared to seek the approval of Congress for
special legislation for the entry into the United States of 50,000
displaced persons including Jews. (d) Pending the establishment of
an international organisation for dealing with refugees, the
Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States will
continue to explore, through the agency of the Inter-Governmental
Committee on Refugees, the possibility of securing the admission
of displaced persons to other countries and will promote such
settlement as far as practicable. Active consideration is already
being given to a concrete proposal relating to Brazil and similar
proposals relating to other South American countries are being
explored.

4. The United Kingdom Government are naturally anxious that all
other countries should be prepared to make their contribution, and
I have been asked to represent to you the importance which they
attach, particularly from the point of view of dealing with the
Palestine problem, to securing a satisfactory International
Agreement on the general problem of displaced persons and to
express the hope that, in view of the great value which would be
derived from cooperative action in this matter on the part of the
various countries of the British Commonwealth, the Commonwealth
authorities should take similar positive steps and also adopt a
sympathetic attitude towards this question when it comes before
the General Assembly of the United Nations.

5. It would be of very great assistance to the United Kingdom
Government if a declaration in this sense on the part of the
Commonwealth Government and of the other Dominion Governments (who
are also being approached) could be made before the end of this
month, especially if such a declaration could contain a definite
offer to accept a specified number of displaced persons (including
Jews).

E. J. WILLIAMS