International Socialist Parley Closes in Zurich Without Debate on Palestine

The International Socialist Conference ended this week without a full dress debate on the Palestine question, although such a discussion had been demanded by Palestine delegate Goldie Meirson, political chief of the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem.

Before leaving Zurich today, Mrs. Meirson released to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency a copy of the statement she circulated to the delegates at the parley after it was decided not to hold the debate. The statement reviewed the close ties between Zionism and various leaders of the Socialist movement and gave an account of the accomplishments of the Palestine Labor movement. It sharply attacked the White Paper policy, declaring that Palestine was now the only country in the world which carries anti-Jewish laws on its books.

It also scored the British Labor Party for breaking its pre-election pledges to the Jews and protested the fact that the remnants of Hitler’s first victims must remain in Europe behind barbed wire. “We often receive dead Jews in Palestine,” Mrs. Meirson’s statement said, referring to the visaless Jews who were killed during clashes with British naval parties which boarded blockade runners carrying them to Palestine, “but those who live are sent to Cyprus and are again placed behind barbed wire.”

Mrs. Meirson also protested against the British press campaign villifying Palestine Jews. Finally, she invited the parley to send an international delegation to review the effects of Jewish settlement on the Arab standard of living.