The 3,000 American civilians in Palestine, the majority of them Jews, were apprehensive today after learning that American Consuls in Egypt had advised United States citizens to leave the country as soon as possible. No such advice has been issued as yet by the American Consulate here.
If American Jews are advised to leave Palestine, they will be in a difficult position. There are many more Americans here than there are in Egypt – where it is estimated only 400 United States citizens are living at present. Most of the American Jews here are aged people. Only two weeks ago the Association of American Citizens in Palestine decided to appeal to the State Department in Washington for one year’s extension of the time allowed to naturalized Americans to remain abroad without forfeiting their U.S. citizenship as provided by the Nationality Act of 1940.
The Jewish population in Palestine is watching with utmost interest the developments on the Libyan front and the possibility of the war moving toward the Suez Canal. Egypt, in spite of its apparent domination by the British, remains somewhat of an unknown factor. It has broken off diplomatic relations with the Axis, under British pressure, but has not declared war, although acts of war have occurred on her territory. It is known that there are very strong pro-Italian sentiments prevailing in high Egyptian circles.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.