Further Negotiations on Jewish Participation in London Parley Still Possible

The decision of the Small Zionist Actions Committee not to participate in the London conference on Palestine does not close the door to further negotiations with the British Government, it was pointed out here today.

Only six members of the Actions Committee voted in favor of outright refusal to attend, and no one favored immediate participation. However, under the decision adopted by a 16 to 6 vote, the executive of the Jewish Agency is empowered to continue its efforts to bring about conditions which would make the Agency’s participation in the London talks possible. The announcement of the decision emphasized that when this result is achieved, the Actions Committee will meet again and reconsider the situation.

The decision to abstain from participation in the conference “under the present circumstances” was adopted despite reports that the majority of the members of the Jewish Agency executive, including those detained at the Latrun camp, favor participation. A reported warning by Dr. Chaim Weizmann that abstention would hamper his future efforts also failed to sway the Actions Committee.

The resolution as adopted by the Committee was the mildest of the several texts submitted. Various groups had demanded non-participation until the cessation of the present “regime of terror” and the end of “oppression, searches and detentions.” The text read as follows:

“The Actions Committee heard a report on the result of the negotiations with the British Government. The Committee declares that under the present circumstances it is impossible to agree to the participation of the Jewish Agency in the conference on Palestine. The Actions Committee empowers the executive of the Jewish Agency to continue its efforts with a view to bringing about such conditions as are essential for participation in the London talks. When this result is achieved, the Committee will meet again to consider the situation.”