A demand that the White Paper policy restricting Jewish immigration into Palestine should not be implemented by the British Government for the duration of the war, was voiced here today by Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, national chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, prior to his leaving for London on an important Zionist mission.
“Jewish refugees escaping from the Nazi regime should be given a haven of refuge in Palestine in the same manner as Poles, Czechs, Greeks and other non-Jewish victims of the Nazis who are admitted to Palestine in the thousands without any restrictions,” Dr. Silver said.
The first American Zionist leader to go to London since the outbreak of the war, Dr. Silver emphasized that he would like American Zionists to also send one of their leaders to Palestine. This, he said, would be very important not only for the morale of the Yishuv, but also for the Zionist movement in all democratic countries.
“The three major Jewish communities – the Jews of America, England and Palestine – must at the present time maintain permanent contact,” Dr. Silver declared. This is essential for our program of aiding the Allies as well as for the Jewish post-war program.”
Dr. Silver paid high tribute to the Jews of England who, he said, are marvelously fulfilling their duties both to the British cause and to the cause of Palestine. During his stay in London, Dr. Silver will not only help to cement a Jewish front between the Jews of England and America, but will also help the Jews in London to launch their Keren Hayesod campaign.
One of the tasks which Dr. Silver will have to perform is to acquaint British Government circles in London with the sentiments of American Jewry with regard to the obstacles which the Palestine administration has been placing in the path of the Jewish refugees seeking to enter Palestine, and especially with the effect that the Strume disaster has had here. Dr. Silver expects to be back in the United States several days before Passover.
The arrival of Dr. Silver in London has been timed to facilitate his participation in a special political meeting arranged there by the Zionist Federation of Greet Britain at which Dr. Weizmann will deliver a speech on the Strume tragedy. Important political questions concerning Jewish work in Palestine will be discussed at this meeting.
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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.
