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No Decision Flouting Mandate Will Bind Jews, British Zionist Parley Told

May 15, 1939
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The Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland, at its 39th annual conference today, heard a message from Dr. Stephen S. Wise, American Zionist leader, declare that no decision on Palestine would be binding for the Jews which did not accord with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the League of Nations mandate. “We will cooperate with the British Government as long as it abides by the mandate, no longer,” the message said.

Projected restrictions on the Jews in Palestine were branded illegal and violative of moral foundations in an address by Berl Locker, Palestine labor leader. A message to the opening session last night by Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Laborite M.P., urged non-cooperation with Britain as the only way to prevent an injustice to the Palestine Jewish homeland. Describing the new immigration ordinance as an “admirable example of injustice,” Col. Wedgwood advised Zionists to resist injustice actively as well as passively.

The conference will be occupied mainly with political developments and will be asked to adopt resolutions urging the Government to avert a catastrophe in its proposals hindering development of the Jewish national home and condemning the Jews to a minority status in Palestine. Other resolutions will protest restriction of immigration except on the basis of the absorptivity principle and denounce land purchase curbs as contrary to the mandate.

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