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American Jewish Committee Presses for Immediate Admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine

November 25, 1945
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The establishment of the joint Anglo-American country commission on Palestine should "in no way preclude or delay" the admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine as requested by President Truman, Secretary of State James F. Cyress was told today in a memerandum submitted to him by Jacob Blaustoin, chairman of the executive committee of the American Jewish Committee; and Dr. John Slawson, its executive vice-president.

Pointing out that the President’s request has the full support of all Jewish groups, and of Americans of all faiths, the Committee representatives declared, in the memerandum, that the proposal of the British Government to admit 1,500 Jews per month is wholly inadequate" and urged the United States Government to continue to press for the adeption of President Truman’s recommendation which they termed "a compelling necessity for the saving of human lives."

The American Jewish Committee further urged recognition of the Balfour Declamation and the terms of the Mandate for Palestine, which, they stressed, was entrusted to Great Britain by fifty nations and approved by the United States. "Hundreds of thousands of Jews immigrated into Palestine, and substantial investments were made, because of faith in the pledges of the Mandate," the memorandum stated.

Declaring that there is no irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Arabs and the Jews in Palestine and that the entire Near East will benefit from the distance in that country of a thriving economy and demecratic self-government, the Committee stated that "with good will on both sides and a firm attitude on the part of the United Nations, harmony can prevail."

The Committee approved the terms of references for the Anglo-American Joint committee which provide for its inquiry into the situation of Jews in European countries where they have been victims of Nazi and Fascist persecution. It said this protision was "in the spirit of the United Nations Charter which seeks to promote and encourage respect for human rights and for the fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, language or relibion." The Committee said that "the United States should share fully in the responsibility of providing immigration opportunities for European Jews."

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