Kisch Says Zionist Executive Reaction to Report Reflected in Macdonald’s Statement

The Zionist Executive in Palestine, through its counsel at the Commission hearings, Sir Boyd Merriman, had protested against the Commission exceeding its terms of reference and hence is able to adopt its present attitude toward the report, an attitude already reflected in Premier MacDonald’s statement, declared Col. Frederick Kisch, chairman of the Palestine Zionist Executive and one of the trio entrusted with the task of administering the Palestine Emergency Fund.

Col. Kisch pointed out that Harry Snell’s reservations are important not only because he belongs to the government party but also because he proposed an Arab-Jewish understanding on the basis of the National Home. The full text of the report is better than the summary in some respects and worse in others, declared Col. Kisch.

He explained that certain changes suggested to Inspector-General Dowbiggin, now engaged in reorganizing the Palestine police force, by the Zionist Executive and the Vaad Leumi might result in changes that would improve the force and the position of the Jews in it. Col. Kisch also reported on the activities of the commission presided over by David Yellin which is preparing material for Dr. Cyrus Adler who will represent the Jews before the League of Nations’ Wailing Wall Commission.

Referring to the progress of reconstruction in the Jewish colonies, Col. Kisch stated that the colonists have started to return to Motz and those of Hartuv will be on their way back next week. The restoration in Beertuvia has begun while work on a new Jewish center consisting of dwellings and shops has started in Safed. Dwellings are also being built in Haifa, he said, in conjunction with the Jewish National Fund and the Palestine Economic Corporation.