Kaplansky Asks England Not to Leave Palestine at Mercy of Colonial Administrators

“We are confident that the British Labor Party will never sacrifice the homeless, home-seeking Jewish people to imperialist aims, or to the nationalist chauvinism of the Arab land-owning classes, the Arab muftis and landlords, the British die-hards, the Italian Fascisti, the Vatican and the Communist International who joined together in a great attack upon the last hope of the Jewish people,” declared S. K. Kaplansky, leader of the Poale Zion, at a reception given by the Poale Zion today in honor of Susan Lawrence, parliamentary secretary to the British Health Ministry.

Mr. Kaplansky said “we do not ask for a new declaration or reaffirmation of policy. We do not doubt the good will of our friends but what we ask is the complementing of the Mandate. We ask them to govern us and not leave us at the mercy of colonial administrators.”

Exery member of the Labor government is at one on this point of the aspirations of the Jews, said Miss Lawrence, replying. “The labor movement in Great Britain has already a great deal to learn from the movement in Palestine. It is the only example of the white man going into a country not to dominate but as an equal of the colored man. It is a great thing and a novel work which has the support of the British labor movement.

“Major Hopkin said we must be prepared for an unfavorable Commission report. Therefore it will be necessary to put forward the Zionist case, not as the Arabs advance their case with force but argument of facts and figures. I feel certain that on the question of the Zionist position in Palestine the Jews are absolutely right and have nothing to be ashamed of. The way in which the Zionists dealt with the land question reflects not only great credit on the Jewish grain but also on the Jewish character.”