Holding to its view that the gates of Palestine must be kept open to as many Jews as the absorptive capacity of the country permits, the British Labor party, in a cable to the National Labor Convention for Palestine, which concluded its three-day conference Sunday night at the Pennsylvania Hotel, said it welcomes “in particular the opportunity afforded to German Jews who are eager to escape from oppressive Hitler regime.”
After expressing “fraternal greetings and best wishes” to the conference, the cablegram says that the Labor party watched “with greatest interest the steady growth of Labor Zionist institutions” during the last fourteen years. The message cites the development of labor settlement schools in the Holy Land as an instance of this growth.
“Prominent members in our movement”, continues the message, “recently visited Palestine and returned with enthusiastic praise for all branches of work being done by the Jewish labor pioneers. We know that difficulties remain and that more must be done to win Arab cooperation. But the work is proceeding along the right lines.
“British labor reaffirms its determination to keep the doors of Palestine as wide open to Jews as economic absorptive capacity of the country permits. It welcomes in particular the opportunity it affords to German Jews who are eager to escape from oppressive Hitlerite regime.” The message bears the signature of Rt. Hon. George Lansbury, member of the House of Commons and head of the British Labor party.
The quota for the year was set by the National Labor Committee convention at $250,000.
Officers elected are:
Former Assemblyman Abraham Shiplacoff, national chairman; David Dubinsky, president of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union; and Morris Finestone, secretary of the United Hebrew Trades, co-chairmen; Joseph Schlossberg, secretary-treasurer of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, chairman of the Administrative Committee; Max Zaritzky, president of the Hat, Cap and Millinery Union, national treasurer; Abraham Miller, secretary of the Joint Board of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers, associate-treasurer, and Isaac Hamlin, national secretary.
A highlight of the convention proceedings was the adoption of a resolution to raise $100,000 for the settlement of the Arlosoroff colony in Palestine.
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