Proposing the appointment of an impartial commission, on which the United States would be represented by at least one member, for investigation of the causes of the Palestine disorders and for recommendation of remedies for the future, Congressman Samuel Dickstein of New York, yesterday, in the first speech so far made in Congress regarding the Palestine outbreak, called upon Great Britain to establish a Jewish militia in Palestine as part of the regular police force, to permit the Jews to arm themselves under proper safeguards, to punish all of the guilty, beginning with the attackers and instigators and ending with the government officials unfaithful to their duty and to compensate the victims of the outrages and rebuild the destroyed buildings at government expense.
Referring to the connection of the United States with the Palestine situation, Representative Dickstein said, “the American people and the American Congress have a decided duty to take a hand in the solution of this muddle. We must in the first place protect the lives of American citizens who may go to Palestine and in the second place we must protect the investment of American capital which was made in Palestine. The government has heretofore represented to Great Britain that it will not permit the killings of
American citizens in Palestine. To this the government of Great Britain has promptly replied that it will take every necessary step to prevent further outbreaks and to take the situation in hand.
“America has a large stake in Palestine. American capital has been coming into the country for the last ten years. American Jews have contributed money lavishly for the upbuilding of Palestine. To mention but one out of many names, Nathan Straus has donated very large sums of money for Palestine. Straus established milk stations in Jerusalem on the same scale and in the same manner in which milk stations are conducted in New York. Incidentally, these milk stations are not established for Jews alone. They are open to all residents of Jerusalem, Jew and non-Jew alike.”
Referring to the desirability of American representation on the proposed impartial commission, Representative Dickstein said this would show that the events in Palestine were not merely of local importance but have assumed world wide character and would also add prestige to the Commission.
“Although several months have elapsed since the tragic occurrence giving rise to the indignation of the world on the subject of the Jewish problem in Palestine, the time has come when it is the duty of the American Congress to take a decided stand in determining our position in this matter.”
He severely criticized the British administration for “the almost reckless manner in which it took for granted there would be no trouble and that the existing police forces were adequate. These forces were never adequate. When the Jews of Palestine offered to cooperate with the British government by way of maintaining a police reserve force the British government at first permitted and thereafter refused the organization of such a police force.”
As part of his speech Representative Dickstein used a special report on the Palestine disorders from Dr. S. Margoshes, editor of “The Day.” There was no debate or interruption during the speech.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
