Britain Makes New Attempt to Secure Jewish Agency Participation in London Parley

The British Government today made a last-minute attempt to secure the participation of the Jewish Agency in the conference on Palestine, which is scheduled to open Monday.

Colonial Secretary George Hall addressed a letter to the Jewish Agency asking for more explicit details of the grounds for the Agency’s refusal of the invitation to the conference, and for clarification of the terms on which the Agency would take part in the parley. The letter was sent following a meeting last night of members of the government and high officials of the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office.

The two main demands on which the Jewish Agency insists are: 1. The creation of a self-supporting Jewish State in Palestine as a basis of discussion at the conference; 2. Completes freedom to choose the Agency representatives for the conference.

An official announcement today stated that invitations to the conference have in the meantime been sent in England to the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Anglo-Jewish Association, the Agudas Israel Organization and Acting Chief Rabbi Harris M. Lazarus of the British Empire.

First to announce acceptance was Rabbi Lazarus. “I hope that I shall be able to make a useful contribution,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Leaders of the Board of Deputies, including Prof. Salig Brodetsky, the chairman, are meeting tonight to decide whether to accept the invitation. Chief Rabbi Herzog of Palestine, who arrived here today, is also joining in the meeting.

The Anglo-Jewish Association announced that it will not attend the opening session of the conference, but will hold a special meeting next week to consider the invitation. Friendly discussions were being conducted today by Jewish Agency leaders with the leaders of the Agudas Israel on the undisclosed attitude of the Agudah.