Severe criticism of the Palestine Inquiry Commission’s report was contained in an elaborately prepared address read to the Mandates Commission by its vice-chairman, D. van Rees. The entire morning session was devoted to M. van Rees’ address in which he pointed out many inexactitudes and inconsistencies contained in the report. His criticisms were generally favorable to the Jewish point of view. H. C. Luke, chief secretary of the Palestine government, and acting High Commissioner, was severely criticized by M. van Rees.
At the afternoon session the Mandates Commission concluded its chronological examination into the incidents from September, 1928, to August, 1929, and their immediate causes. This was followed by an inquiry into the deep-lying causes of the disturbances and the responsibilities involved in them. The two British spokesmen, Mr. Luke and Dr. Drummond Shiels, under-secretary for the colonies, furnished supplementary information and replied to questions.
A charge that the Jewish communities outside of Palestine, particularly the United States, who demanded wide immigration to Palestine, were entirely ignoring the difficulties of the Mandatory power, was made by Dr. Shiels in replying to a question regarding immigration. The Jews of the United States were more blamed for providing the financial sinews that enable East European Jews to go to Palestine than for sending immigrants of their own.
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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.
