There was never any doubt regarding the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine, declared Dr. Drummond Shiels, British under-secretary for the colonies, speaking at the British Commonwealth Labor Conference today at which delegates from the British dominions, colonies and Mandated territories were present. The delegates from Palestine were David Ben-Gurion president of the General Federation of Jewish Labor, Dov Hos and Golda Meyerson.
SAYS IMMIGRATION “BAN” EXAGGERATED
Dr. Shiels spoke bitterly and with some irritation regarding the suspension of immigration to Palestine which he termed exaggerated and explained as merely temporary. Appealing for greater confidence in the Labor government, he complained against the Jewish attacks on British officials and the British government, saying that the Jews do not pay due tribute to the positive achievements of the government officials in Palestine.
Emphasizing the necessity for achieving an understanding between Jews and Arabs he concluded by asking the delegates not to doubt the sincerity of the British government in its desire to establish the Jewish National Home in accordance with the terms of the Palestine Mandate.
SHIELS RESPONDS TO BEN-GURION
Although the Conference was private the Jewish Telegraphic Agency understands that Dr. Shiels’ address came in response to speeches made by the Palestinian delegates, particularly one by Ben-Gurion, who outlined the Jewish achievements in Palestine and pointed out the differences between Jewish immigration to Palestine and immigration to other countries. He explained that the Jewish immigration increased the government’s revenue because the general prosperity of the country raised the standard of life of all sections of the population.
Mr. Ben-Gurion said that a policy which keeps Palestine open to Jewish immigration and not only protects the Arab in his right but sees that he shares amply in the increased prosperity of the country is certainly not doomed to failure.
Miss Myerson described the impression that the suspension of immigration and other government measures had made on Palestine. Dov Hos spoke on the labor legislation of Palestine and declared that the accusations against the Jewish labor immigrants were unfounded. The delegates received the arguments of the Palestine delegation most sympathetically.
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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.
