Palestine Entry Reduction Denied; Limit Set for First Time on Admission of Dependents

Officials of the Jewish Agency for Palestine today described as “absolutely incorrect” reports published abroad that the Palestine immigration schedule of 4,870 certificates for the half year beginning Oct. 1 represents a reduction from the previous schedule.

Jewish Agency officials pointed out that the new schedule, like the old one, provides 2,000 certificates for Jewish capitalists and 1,000 for Jewish laborers, each certificate being good for a family. Regarding admission of students, and of children under the youth Aliyah movement, there continues to be no numerical restriction, their admission depending on the number of places available for them.

The 4,870-certificate schedule appears, on its face, to represent an increase from the previous 3,440-certificate schedule. This apparent increase is due to the introduction in this schedule of a 1,450 quota for dependents of Palestine residents, whereas no limit on dependents was set in the last schedule. While the previous schedule set no figure for dependents, the government admitted 800 of them; although the new schedule provides 1,450 for dependents, the Jewish agency actually receives only 800. Thus there is no material change in the number of dependents admitted nor in the net effect of the schedule on Jewish immigration.