London Conference of 1946–1947 facts for kids
The London Conference of 1946–1947 was a series of important meetings held in London between September 1946 and February 1947. The British government, led by Clement Attlee, organized these talks. The main goal was to decide the future of Palestine and end Britain's control over the area, known as the Mandate.
These meetings happened after Arab countries asked for them. They wanted to discuss a report from the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry that came out in April 1946. However, the conference failed to get Arabs and Jews to agree on Palestine's future. Because of this, Britain decided to give up its control and ask the United Nations to solve the problem instead.
Contents
Why the Conference Happened
The London conferences were part of many discussions about the conflict in Palestine. A key background event was the White Paper of 1939. This was an earlier British plan for Palestine.
In October 1945, the British government decided its foreign minister would suggest a solution. This plan would then be passed to the United Nations.
The Council of the Arab League met at the Bloudan Conference of 1946. They discussed the report from the Anglo-American Committee. The Arab governments then asked Britain to meet. They wanted to reach an agreement before the United Nations General Assembly met again in September 1946. They hoped to change the situation in Palestine to fit the UN's goals.
Another important event before the conference was the Biltmore Conference in 1942. At this meeting, Jewish leaders called for many Jews to move to Palestine. They also wanted to create a Jewish commonwealth there. This idea led to the main goal of the Zionist movement: to create a Jewish state in part of Palestine.
First Conference: Arab States Meet
Britain sent out invitations on July 25, 1946. This was just three days after the King David Hotel bombing. Invitations went to Arab League countries, the Jewish Agency for Palestine, and the Palestine Arab Higher Executive. Other important Arab and Jewish leaders in Britain and Palestine were also invited. However, neither the Jewish Agency nor the Palestine Arab Higher Executive accepted the invitations.
Just before the conference started, Eliyahu Sasson tried to get Arab leaders to support the Jewish proposals. His team was hopeful because of earlier talks.
The conference began on September 9, 1946. Only representatives from Arab states attended. No Jewish or Palestinian representatives were there.
The first topic discussed was the Morrison–Grady Plan. All parties quickly rejected this plan.
Britain later explained the Arab reaction. The Arab delegates said they were against the plan's main idea. They believed any plan for local self-rule would eventually lead to Palestine being divided.
The Arab states then offered their own plan. Here are the main points:
- Palestine would be a single, independent state.
- It would have a permanent Arab majority.
- It would become independent after a short time (2-3 years) under British control.
- Jews who had lived in Palestine for ten years would become citizens. They would have the same rights as all other citizens.
- Special rules would protect the religious and cultural rights of the Jewish community.
- Holy Places would be protected, and religious freedom would be guaranteed.
- Jews would get seats in the government assembly. Their number would match the Jewish population. However, Jewish representatives would never be more than one-third of the total.
- Any laws about immigration or land sales would need approval from Arab members of the assembly.
- Changes to rules about Holy Places would need UN approval. Changes to Jewish community safeguards would need approval from Jewish assembly members.
The conference paused in early October. This was because of United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York. It started again on January 27, 1947.
22nd World Zionist Congress
While the London conference was on hold, the 22nd World Zionist Congress took place. It was held in Basle, Switzerland, from December 9 to 24, 1946.
The Congress discussed the terrible events of The Holocaust and the many refugees it created. They also talked about Britain's actions during the Holocaust. Tensions between Jews in Palestine and British forces were also a major topic. During his speech, Chaim Weizmann said that Britain's control over Palestine needed to be re-examined. He added that if it failed, Britain should leave.
The Congress called the Morrison-Grady plan "a joke" compared to Britain's duties. They said it was not a basis for discussion. They also confirmed that the Zionist Organization would not join the London conference "in the existing circumstances." The Congress made these demands:
- Palestine should become a Jewish commonwealth. This would be part of the democratic world.
- Palestine should open its doors to Jewish immigration.
- The Jewish Agency should control immigration into Palestine. It should also have the power to build up the country.
Second Conference: New Talks Begin
The conference restarted in January 1947. This time, a group from the Palestine Arab Higher Executive joined the Arab League states. Jewish Agency representatives also had informal talks with the British government. On February 7, 1947, Britain offered a new plan to everyone. This plan suggested Britain would oversee Palestine for five years. The goal was to prepare the country for independence.
The British government later summarized these new ideas:
- Britain would act as a trustee for Palestine.
- Local areas would have a lot of self-rule. These areas would be set up to have mostly Jews or mostly Arabs.
- The British High Commissioner would protect minorities in these areas.
- The High Commissioner would try to form an advisory council for the whole country.
- After four years, a new assembly would be elected.
- If Arab and Jewish representatives in this assembly agreed, an independent state would be formed quickly.
- If they disagreed, the United Nations would be asked for advice.
The Jewish Agency rejected any plans that did not include an independent Jewish state. At the same time, Arab representatives insisted that Jewish immigration leading to a Jewish state would cause "bloodshed." The Arab counter-proposals offered protection for minorities. They also offered citizenship for Jews who chose to live in Palestine.
All parties rejected the new British proposal. This included the Jewish Agency, the Palestine Arab Higher Executive, and the Arab countries. The Jewish Agency wanted Palestine to become a Jewish State. They also wanted Jewish immigration to be allowed as much as the country could handle. They also wanted "a strong Jewish State in a suitable area of Palestine."
What Happened Next
On February 14, 1947, a joint British-Arab statement was released. It said that the Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, found no acceptable proposals during the conference. The statement noted that Arab delegates found "any form of partition or Jewish immigration" unacceptable.
On February 18, 1947, right after the conference, Ernest Bevin announced Britain's decision. He said Britain could not solve the problem. They would pass it to the United Nations to find a solution.
Bevin explained that Britain could not give the country to either Arabs or Jews. They also could not divide it. He said Britain could not accept the plans from either side. They also could not force their own solution. So, they decided to ask the United Nations to judge the problem. Britain would explain how it had managed Palestine for 25 years. They would say that their control had not worked. They would also explain that their duties to both communities could not be reconciled. Britain would describe all the ideas that had been suggested. These included the Arab Plan, Jewish goals, the Anglo-American Committee's ideas, and Britain's own proposals. Finally, Britain would ask the UN to review their report and suggest a solution. Britain itself would not recommend any specific solution.
The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine was formed on May 15, 1947. This committee worked to combine ideas from both Palestinian and American Jewish groups.
See also
- World Zionist Congress
- American trusteeship proposal for Palestine
External sources
- Pathe Newsreel of Conference Opening
