Agency Asks End of Entry Curbs and “clear-cut Issue” on Palestine’s Future

The Jewish Agency for Palestine, submitting its annual memorandum to the League of Nations Mandates Commission, today urged the British Government to remove restriction on Jewish immigration and to present as soon as possible “a clear-cut issue” regarding Palestine’s future.

The recommendations are contained in a covering letter by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the Agency, to the High Commissioner, which also asks regularization of the status of illegal immigrants, continued efforts to fight terrorism, measures to enable Palestine to hold its own in commercial relations with other countries and Government credits to promote economic recovery.

The memorandum itself, which is dated June, 1938, covers in 26 pages and 116 paragraphs the development of the Jewish National Home during the calendar year 1937 and the financial year ending September, 1937. It reviews population, immigration, colonization, urban development, education, health and finance.

The Jewish population of Palestine is given as 416,000 or 30.5 per cent of the population. The birth rate is found declining, but still relatively high. Some 21,500 Jews were naturalized during the year, as compared with 9,313 in 1936. Jewish immigration amounted to 10,536, the lowest recorded since 1932.

The necessity for removing restrictions on immigration is stressed by Dr. Weizmann in his letter, which concludes: “More than anything else I would again plead for the speedy removal of the arbitrary limitations recently imposed on Jewish immigration. No other measure would so effectively contribute to the revival of confidence in the country’s future and to the promotion of constructive initiative. It is all the more imperative in view of the calamities which have overtaken large sections of the Jewish Diaspora in the course of the past year. Immigration to Palestine is at present almost the only ray of hope in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jews threatened with extinction. The Jewish Agency earnestly hopes that the Mandatory Government will do whatever lies in its power towards the fulfilment of this hope.”

Reviewing the departure from the absorptive capacity standard of immigration, Dr. Weizmann said it was “difficult to see why this practice could not have continued during the interim period of the investigation.” He expressed “deep regret that the Government has found it necessary to depart in so marked a degree from the obligation it has assumed to facilitate Jewish immigration.”

Regarding Palestine’s political future, Dr. Weizmann declared: “There can, unfortunately, be very little doubt that the continued deterioration both of public security and the economic position are in large measure due to the state of doubt and indecision produced by the prolonged inaction of the Government. Without desiring in any way to anticipate the eventual decisions of the competent organs of the Jewish Agency on the question, I should like to emphasize the urgent need for reducing the period of uncertainty to a minimum and presenting public opinion as soon as possible with a clear-cut issue on which definite decisions can be taken.”

In addition to political uncertainty and immigration restrictions, reasons which Dr. Weizmann advanced for the depression in Palestine included renewal of terrorist activities, rise of food and raw material prices on the world market and losses suffered by the citrus industry, mainly on account of dumping of Spanish fruit in the British market in consequence of the Spanish Civil War.

Nevertheless, Dr. Weizmann found the Jewish economic structure showing “strength and resilience.” He reported that 19 new agricultural settlements were established, agricultural production increased, and signal progress made in industry. In transport, he noted the completion and opening to passengers of the Tel Aviv port, and the entry of Jewish enterprise into the field of aviation. Imports reached a total of £15,904,000, an increase of £1,926,000 over 1935, and exports aggregated £5,820,000, or £2,194,000 more than 1936 and the highest export figure yet recorded for Palestine.

In addition to recommendations regarding Palestine’s political future and immigration, Dr. Weizmann urged the following in his letter:

1–That the status of the illegal immigrants in Palestine, “these unfortunate people who have been greatly penalized by the disabilities hitherto imposed upon them,” be finally regularized in the manner proposed by the Peel Royal Commission, namely, that they be given legal status;

2–That the “strenuous and gallant efforts” of Government forces to fight terrorism be continued until peace and security has been fully restored, and that the Government maintain and extend the Jewish supernumerary police force and that the Jews be effectively represented in all future security formations;

3–That an authoritative reinterpretation of Article 18 of the mandate be sought from the League Council “which would enable Palestine to hold its own in commercial negotiations with other countries.” Article 18 at present imposes restrictions on Palestine trade.

4–That the Government extend long-term, low-interest loans to agriculturists and manufacturers and grant certain municipalities authority to raise loans for public works “to promote economic recovery and to assist further development.”