Prime Minister Earnest Bevin stated in the House of Commons on December 12th 1947:
“THERE IS NO OBLIGATION UPON US TO CHANGE THE IMMIGRATION QUOTA DURING THE SHORT REMAINING PERIOD IN WHICH WE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE IN PALESTINE. Here I want to make an appeal to the Jews. If this were done, or if any attempt were made to bring in numbers of immigrants, in spite of our control, and so cause trouble, in my view this would be another and most important contribution to unrest. At a critical moment of this kind I hope that common sense will prevail.”
Source: United Nations Palestine Commission. Considerations Affecting Certain of the Provisions of the General Assembly. Resolution on the “Future Government of Palestine”: Control of Immigration.