Anti-semitic Attacks in England Are “danger Signal” to Jews, Minister Tells Lords

The recent wave of anti-Semitic incidents in Enland is “a danger signal which cannot be ignored,” Viscount George Hall, First ## of the Admiralty, today told the House of Lords during a discussion of the situation in Palestine. He emphasized that responsible Jewish organizations, particularly ## Jewish Agency, should take note of this “signal.”

Speaking for the British Cabinet, he said that the Exodus refugees, now ##ned on three British deportation vessels at Port de Bouc, would not be returned Palestine, nor would they be transported to Cyprus. He blamed American Jews with ##ding “illegal” immigration of Jews to Palestine and pointed out that if financial ##pport for such immigration were withheld in the United States, the unauthorized immegration of Jews would be considerably less than during the last 18 months.

Viscount Hall charged the Jewish Agency with not supporting the Palestine ministration wholeheartedly, asserting that if it brought the full strength of the ##ganah into the battle against the extremists, the underground could not exist in Palestine any longer than it could in Britain, if the whole country were opposed to ##. At the same time, he rejected the suggestion that collective fines be imposed ## the Jewish community for the actions of the extremists. He predicted that the report of the United Nations Special Committee on Palestine would be available by september 1.

The Bishop of Derby announced the anti-Jewish attacks. Anti-Semitism in England is inexcusable and is “as illogical as it is wrong,” he declared.

LORDS WANT SPEEDY SOLUTION OF PALESTINE PROBLEM

Several members of the House expressed impatience with the length of time it would take to deal with the Palestine issue after the U.N. committee completed its inquiry. Viscount Long urged the appointment of a special parliamentary committee to consider the U.N. report as soon as it was delivered and institute all necessary action without waiting for Parliament to reconvene in the fall. Lord Altrincham asked if something could not be done to hurry U.N. consideration of the case. Altrincham, joined by Lord Grenfell, called for an intensification of military operations in Palestine.

Lord Reading told the House that the Jews of Britain did not have any influence over the extremists in Palestine and “vague exhortation” to them to control the extremists was valueless. Attacking American Jews who have been extremely critical of British policy in Palestine, he asserted that “it is a tragic situation when the great need of the world is peace that the opportunity should be taken by any section of the (American) community to go to the lengths of excess, of incitement and execration” that some “vociferous” sections of American Jewry have achieved.

Referring to the problem of an ultimate settlement of the future of thousands of homeless Jews, he said: “Whatever state of mind in which they may have started at the time of liberation, I believe it is true to say now that their hopes are concentrated ultimately upon finding a home in Palestine among people who want to receive them rather than being given a home in some country amongst people who receive them out of kindliness and charity but perhaps with just a little hesitation and reluctance enough to destroy the welcome.”

Lord Hall described Reading’s speech as “important and effective” and necessary to indicate the attitude of the Jewish population in this country. He said he hoped the speech would be read not only by Jewry in Britain and the United States, but throughout the world. It might well assist in bringing about a peaceful solution of this very difficult problem, he declared.