The Jewish Agency today appealed to the members of the United Nations to intervene with the British Government to reverse its decision on the deportation of the Exodus refugees to Germany. The appeal was made against a background of mounting protests in Palestine where the Jews are preparing to observe a day of prayer and fast tomorrow in sympathy with the visaless immigrants.
As the internationally recognized representative of the Jewish people, the Agency asked the nations to “prevent this crime against humanity being perpetrated by one of the mightiest powers on earth against a weak and defenseless group of men, women and children.” It also called the action “vindictive” and “illegal in view of Britain’s obligation under international law.”
Earlier, the Agency issued a statement describing the deportations as “the latest action in the equalid war against the Jews” and denied British allegations that Zionist pressure kept the immigrants from disembarking in France. It also denied the charge that recent Jewish-Arab clashes resulted from visaless immigration, asserting that both the Jewish and Arab masses are deeply anxious to maintain peace. Accusing the Palestine Government of being the real law breaker since 1939, the Agency charged the British with villifying the “humanitarian” work of bringing refugee immigrants to Palestine.
At a mass meeting in Tel Aviv this week-end, called to protest the deportations, Goldie Meirson, head of the Agency’s political department in Jerusalem, charged Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin of having declared a “holy war” against the Jews. She compared him to Hitler.
Dr. Judah L. Magnes, president of the Hebrew University, appealed to 12 prominent British leaders, including Prime Minister Clement R. Attlee and Winston Churchill, asking that the refugees be diverted to any British port rather than Germany. A similar plea was made by the Palestine League to Combat Anti-Semitism, in a cable signed by Chief Rabbi Ben Zion Usiel and Moslem and Christian members of the group.
NEW BLOCKADE RUNNER REPORTED NEARING PALESTINE COAST
A new blockade runner carrying Jewish immigrants was reported by Reuters to be nearing the Palestine coast. No indication was given as to when the vessel might arrive.
Only one short alert broke the week-end peace. It followed the explosion of a flash bomb in a Jewish cafe in Jerusalem. Police believe that the bomb was set by a Jew in protest against an alleged violation of the Sabbath by the owner of the restaurant.
The Inspector-General of the Palestine police force yesterday announced the arrest of an unspecified number of Jews believed to be implicated in the hanging of two British soldiers by the Irgun last month. Meanwhile, the military have torn up the grove in which the bodies were discovered, as part of their punitive action against property which extremists use in their activities.
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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.
