The opening of the Anglo-Palestine Exhibition this afternoon was turned into an imposing pro-Jewish manifestation when Prime Minister J. Ramsay MacDonald, in his address opening the exposition, admitted that the special reason for his presence on the occasion was his desire to express, at this particular time, his pleasure at being associated with this Jewish enterprise and to pay tribute to the great service which the Jewish people have rendered in the progress of science, art, politics and civilization generally.
After describing the Jewish achievements in Palestine and the enthusiasm of the workers, Mr. MacDonald exclaimed, “My Jewish friends, as long as that is the stuff of which you are, you can face many proscriptions and persecutions and flourish as a result.
“Palestine has less of an unemployment problem than any other country. You balanced your budget. I saw the first scratching of the ground for the first colonies which are now represented at this exhibition, not only as a big declaration of faith and loyalty but as the fruit of hard labor in a rich soil. I hope you will be ready to use your intelligence and your muscles in laying the foundations of a still more beautiful home and land.”
Turning to the non-Jews, Mr. MacDonald urged them to visit Palestine and “enjoy life right down to the roots of your being. But apart from the touristic and Biblical aspect of Palestine,” he said, “it is of the utmost importance from a commercial viewpoint.”
The Prime Minister joined Lord Reading who presided, in an appeal for cooperation between Arab and Jew “on which the future of Palestine rests.
“You have had your grievances against the British Government,” he declared. “So have I. Governments were made to disappoint people in too great a hurry. The Palestine problem is exceedingly difficult, involving the settlement and development of immigration.
“Go on with your pushing and demanding and we will do our best to satisfy you.”
Lord Reading thanked the Prime Minister especially for showing sincere sympathy and interest in Palestine and in the work of the Jewish National Fund under whose auspices the exhibition was organized.
The exhibition, Lord Reading declared, “shows the remarkable manifest progress of Palestine under the British mandate. It shows the advantages of reciprocal trade. Apart from the material side of the exhibition, it shows the cultural and educational in the archaeological and historical sections. We look forward with confidence.”
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, former president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, speaking of Palestine, said, “Here is a country which opens wide its doors to the persecuted today as in the past. We look forward with pleasure to the future cooperation of the Jews and the Arabs living in happiness and contentment, rejoicing in the advantages of a British administration under the mandate.”
Lord Melchett stressed that the Jewish people have not had recourse to arms in two thousand years. “Their weapons are the forces of intellect and spirit and will be so in the future. In Palestine, the past and the future will work together.”
The exhibition today attracted thousands of visitors, Jewish and non-Jewish who came to see the 5,000 exhibits in the Palestine section and, in addition, the number of exhibits in the British section where machines and other products designed for export to Palestine are displayed.
The achievements of the Jewish National Fund in the development of Palestine are strikingly and colorfully displayed.
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