Lord Passfield Declined to Receive Delegation of Board of Jewish Deputies to Protest Against Stoppag

The refusal of Lord Passfield, Colonial Minister, to receive a delegation of the Board of Jewish Deputies who sought to register a protest against the stoppage of immigration to Palestine, was revealed at the weekly metting of the Board. The Board wrote to Lord Passfield May 26 for an audience and his reply was not received until May 31 in which he wrote that he regretted having to refuse the request because he was leaving the country immediately and was unable to return for some time.

NO GENERAL STOPPAGE OR PROHIBITION

He desired to make clear, however, that there was no general stoppage or prohibition of immigration. Lord Passfield pointed out in his reply to the Board of Jewish Deputies that owing to a misunderstanding the schedule had been approved but no certificates were cancelled nor was any final decision reached regarding the labor schedule covering the whole period to September 30, 1930.

The Board of Jewish Deputies unanimously passed a protest resolution stating that in view of the worldwide protests which the suspension decision had evoked on the ground that it indicates a breach of the undertakings contained in the Mandate, and that it is being construed as a surrender to a policy of force which manifested itself in three attacks on the Jewish population and is encouragement to a continuance of hostility by those who oppose the policy of the Palestine Mandate, the Board urges the government to release the certificates as soon as possible.

WESTERNIZATION OF PALESTINE IMPORTANT

d’Avigdor Goldsmid, president of the Board, in moving the resolution, said it is important that the Westernization of Palestine continue unchecked. The present policy of the government, he stated, is not in harmony with the broadest imperial interests. As an Englishman he strongly urged the government to take immediate steps to modify that policy.

As an Englishman and a Jew he declared he feels grave regret that the confidence in the British government is so shaken abroad. We feel that while the government’s intentions appear good and while public speeches here and statements in Geneva express appreciation of the services the Jews have rendered to Palestine, yet when their pledges are to be translated into acts there is a sad and deeply regrettable difference.

ASKS GOVERNMENT TO KEEP PROMISES

“We ask the government to act up to its own promises.” Mr. Goldsmid pointed out that the Jewish Agency was satisfied that the procedure followed by the government in distributing compensation for the damages that followed the riots was equitable but it was aware that it was miserably inadequate which arose from a limitation of the total amount, $500,000, of which $444,880 was paid to Jewish claimants.

The report presented by the Joint Foreign Committee of the Board of Jewish Deputies and the Anglo-Jewish Association stated that the Roumanian outlook was far from clear and not without disturbing possibilities. The suggestion was made by the Committee that new homes be found for the Yemenite Jews in Abyssinia. The Board of Jewish Deputies decided not to participate in the congress of the Shomre Shabbos, Union of Sabbath Observers.