Speech #790217286

But somewhere along the line there was lack of cooperation. As a result. our Government. instead of insisting on immediate action last fall. agreed to postpone the action until after an investigation was made by an entirely unnecessary AngloAmerican Committee of Inquiry. After that committee finished its labors and unanimously endorsed the Presidents position. the State Department again accepted a procedure which would make the admission of the 100.000 subject to further consultations. although last fall the Secretary of State had made it clear that the admission of these refugees is an urgent humanitarian matter which does not change the basic situation in Palestine and. therefore. does not have to be made subject to such consultations. A few weeks ago. the State Department issued a new statement in which no distinction whatever was made between the urgent recommendation that 100.000 Jews be admitted to Palestine now. and the longrange recommendations of the AngloAmerican Committees report. thereby departing substantially from the stand taken by President Truman. who very emphatically did make such a distinction. When attention was called to this discrepancy. the State Department. presumably under pressure. issued a new statement. awkwardly attempting to justify its position.