Pittsburgh Press · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · 19 November 1945

CP-1945-006

Hoover Urges Plan to Move Arabs from Palestine

Ex-President Says Model Migration Might Solve Racial Strife, Give Jews Home

By Scripps-Howard Service, New York

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Transcribed from the clipping

“NEW YORK, Nov. 19—There is a sane and practical solution of the Palestine problem in the opinion of former President Herbert Hoover. The idea, offered in response to an inquiry by the World-Telegram (a Scripps-Howard newspaper), approaches the problem from an engineering standpoint.

As a result, emotional, racial and political aspects of the problem would be subordinated in a process by which both Jews and Arabs would benefit materially. In reply to the direct question from the World-Telegram as to whether he believes any sound or practical basis exists for settlement of the highly inflammatory Jewish-Arab question, Mr.

Hoover replied: ‘There is a possible plan of settling the Palestine question and providing ample Jewish refuge.

It is at least worth serious investigation for it offers a constructive humanitarian solution… My own suggestion is that Iraq might be financed to complete this great land development on the consideration that it be made the scene of re-settlement of the Arabs from Palestine. This would clear Palestine completely for a large Jewish emigration and colonization.

A suggestion of transfer of the Arab people of Palestine was made by the British Labor Party in December, 1944, but no adequate plan was proposed as to where or how they were to go… There is room for many more Arabs than in Palestine. The soil is more fertile. They would be among their own race which is Arab speaking and Mohammedan.

The Arab population of Palestine would be the gainers from better lands in exchange for their present holdings. Iraq would be the gainer for it badly needs agricultural population. Today millions of people are being moved from one land to another. If the lands were organized and homes provided, this particular movement could be made the model migration of history.

It would be a solution by engineering instead of by conflict. I realize that the plan offers a challenge both to the statesmanship of the great powers as well as to the good will of all parties concerned. However, I submit it, and it does offer a method of settlement with both honor and wisdom.’”

Context added by this archive

The World-Telegram’s own version, with Hoover’s photograph, and it is the one that uses the word: a suggestion of transfer of the Arab people of Palestine, made by the British Labour Party in December 1944. The subheadings are “Population Shrunk,” “Might Be Financed” and “Solution by Engineering.”

The line under the headline calls it racial strife. Printed above a four-line notice of a retired millworker who died at dinner.

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