David Ben-Gurion, member of the Jewish Agency Executive, who is now in London, outlined today, in an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the attitude of the Executive of the Jewish Agency toward a number of internal Zionist problems, as well as the problems concerning the attitude of the Jewish Agency toward the Arabs and the British Government.
“I have come to London,” Ben-Gurion stated, “to consult the members of our London Executive on a number of important questions which have now become actual problems. One of these is to consider certain measures how to consolidate the Zionist movement.
“We are now working on a plan how to consolidate the constructive forces and to strengthen the internal unity in the Zionist ranks and how to activize the movement.
“There are also a number of problems concerning the relations with the mandatory power and with the Arabs, which we shall discuss now at the Executive sessions during my stay in London.” he said.
“The Executive is making great efforts to find an understanding with the Arabs. We are, however, convinced that a true and long-lasting understanding can be built only when the needs, the aims and the rights of the Jewish people in Palestine will be recognized to their full extent.
“These aims do not contradict in any way the interests of the Arabs. They are only complementing the real needs of the Arab population in Palestine, as well as the needs of the Arabs in the neighboring countries.”
WILL OPPOSE ASSEMBLY
Asked the attitude of the Executive toward the projected Legislative Assembly in Palestine, Ben-Gurion declared:
“The Executive will decidedly be against any constitutional change which will limit even to the slightest extent the rights which the Jewish people have to Palestine.
“It is not the rights of present Jewish inhabitants of Palestine, but of the entire Jewish nation, as such, that are at stake, and we must oppose any attempt to establish a constitutional regime, on the basis of the present status quo in Palestine.”
Asked about the immigration problem and the forthcoming labor schedule, Ben-Gurion stated;
“At present, officials of the Jewish Agency are collaborating with Government officials of the Immigration Department in Palestine to establish the labor needs in the country. It is, however, premature to foretell the results.”
Ben-Gurion during his stay in London was to meet with Sir Arthur Wauchope, the High Commissioner for Palestine. He intends to leave for Poland, but will return to London early in October, to remain here until the end of the month.
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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.
