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Silver Discusses Jewish Problems with Colonial Minister and Soviet Ambassador in London

March 13, 1942
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Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, American Zionist leader, who is now on a Zionist mission here, was received today by Lord Cranborne, the British Colonial Minister, with whom he discussed matters concerning Palestine. Rabbi Silver was also received today by Ivan Maisky, Soviet Ambassador.

A statement that the British Government cannot undertake any steps that would undermine the Palestine immigration policy was made in Commons last night by Harold MacMillan, under-secretary for Colonies. He reiterated the policy outlined by Lord Cranborne in the House of Lords this week, declaring that the British Government hoped that such tragedies as the Struma sinking would not occur again, but that it could give no definite assurances as to changes in the immigration policy of the Palestine administration.

The Daily Telegraph, a leading London newspaper, violently assails both Lord Davies and Lord Wedgwood for their criticism of the Palestine government voiced in the House of Lords. Declaring that “there could hardly be a more flagrant abuse of the freedom of Parliamentary debate,” the Telegraph charges both speakers with raising disputable points “tending to unsettle both Arabs and Jews and make more anxious the already delicate situation.” At a time “when the Middle East lies under a threat of attack and disquiet is in the air in Palestine those who raise these ‘loud provocative shouts,’ as Lord Cranborne called them, incur the gravest responsibilities apart from discrediting and slandering an administration that is doing its utmost to hold a true balance in circumstances of perennial difficulty,” the paper writes.

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