U.S. Zionists Not Involved in Ben Shemen Arms Case, Macdonald Says

American Zionists were cleared by Colonial Secretary Malcolm MacDonald in the House of Commons of any connection with the recent case involving eight officials of the American-supported Ben Shemen school in Palestine who were sentenced to terms ranging from three to seven years for possession of arms.

MacDonald’s statement was in reply to a question by Capt. Alan Graham, who asked why the sentences had been imposed and the extent to which American Zionists were implicated. MacDonald rejected a suggestion by Tom Williams, Labor M.P., to reduce the sentences of 105 Jews serving three to ten-year terms, pointing out that a number of the offenses had been committed after outbreak of the war. Williams’ plea was based on Jewish support of the British war effort.