It is a mistake to think that only the Jews oppose the creation of a Legislative Assembly in Palestine, Nahum Sokolow, President of the Jewish Agency declared here in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency prior to his departure for London.
There are many very competent men in London who are at present not keen about pressing the issue of establishing a Legislative Council, preferring the system of gradual development by practical improvements, Dr. Sokolow said.
The idea of creating a Legislative Council in Palestine at present would not be in the interests of the Government or of the Mandate. There are people who may think that only the extremists among the Jews are opposing the projected Legislative Council. These people may entertain the hope that certain elements among the Jews, as well as among the Arabs, might be induced to come together on the platform of a Legislative Council. Such an assumption is altogether wrong with regard to the Jews, Dr. Sokolow pointed out. I am certainly not an extremist and this is well known to the Mandatory Power, but one need not be an extremist to oppose the creation of a Legislative Council in Palestine.
Referring to the present High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Wauchope, Dr. Sokolow stated: I have no doubt that the High Commissioner has very good intentions with regard to Jewish development as well as with regard to the non-Jewish population in Palestine. The realization of these intentions, however, will require some considerable time.
Dr. Sokolow believes that the present political situation of Jewish interests in Palestine is much better than it has ever been. This is due mainly to the progress in Jewish work, which is giving an impetus to the development of the country as a whole.
Summing up his impressions of Palestine and his visits throughout the country, when he came into contact with every section of the Jewish population, Dr. Sokolow emphasized that he has found the position of the Jews in Palestine much better than ever before. Although I have been criticized as an optimist with regard to my observations on the present economic improvement in Palestine, nevertheless, I remain of the opinion that the Jews in Palestine are enjoying now a much better economic period than ever before.
We may fairly congratulate ourselves on having achieved a minute part of the great mission with which we were entrusted. We do not regard that
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