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Calls for Commission of 9, Jews, Arabs and League Experts, to Study Immigration

November 22, 1929
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That a commission of three Arabs, three Jews and three foreign experts on the immigration question, chosen by the League of Nations would reach a scientific, unpolitical decision, probably as generous as that of the British government today, with regard to Jewish immigration into Palestine, one of the causes of Arab-Jewish friction, is expressed by Brith Shalom leaders here.

The Brith Shalom Society today issued a denial of the charges contained in an editorial in “The Day,” New York Yiddish daily, and reprinted in the local Hebrew press via the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Issuing an official statement repudiating “The Day’s” assertion that the Brith Shalom has put itself forward as the representative of the Jewish community, the statement declares that the Brith Shalom never pretended to represent anything but a small group of Zionists and not the entire Jewish community. It also contradicts “The Day’s” statement that the Brith Shalom conceded everything to the Arabs.

“We certainly do not concede everything.” We have tried for three years to convince the Zionists that without an agreement with the Arabs no realization of Zionism is possible. The Brith Shalom Society flatly denies “The Day’s” charges that they have negotiated directly with the Arabs. We have communicated only with the Jewish Agency.”

In an interview today with several Brith Shalomists, the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns that they confirm Dr. Hugo Bergmann’s views that the Jews should ask the government to reopen considerations leading to the establishment of a legislative assembly on the condition that the Jews be permitted to immigrate into the country up to its economic capacity to absorb them, that Hebrew be one of the official languages, that there be a Hebrew school system and that the Jews should have administrative autonomy over all Jewish districts.

Asked who would decide what the country’s economic capacity for immigration was one Brith Shalomite explained the commission of nine mentioned above.

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