Palestine Government Asked to Speed Entrance of Jews Under Current Quota

Expressing deep concern at the fact that none of the 13,500 Jewish refugees entitled to enter Palestine under the three-month quota expiring June 31 have as yet arrived, a delegation of the Jewish National Council today called upon high officials of the Palestine Government demanding that some action be taken.

The delegation, composed of Isaac Ben-Zvi and Dr. Abraham Katznelson, pointe out that the developments in the Balkan countries, from where the Jewish refugees are to be taken, may make it impossible for the prospective Jewish emigrants to leave these countries. It asked, therefore, that steps be taken immediately to secure transportation facilities for the refugees, so as to make it possible for them to reach Palestine before June 30.

Replying to the delegation’s demands, James S. McPherson, Chief Secretary of the Palestine Government, declared that “His Majesty’s Government and the Government of Palestine are fully aware of the urgency of the situation” and are taking all measures in their power.

The Jewish National Council today appointed a special committee to inquire into the circumstances of a fatal accident in which four Jewish students of the Tel Aviv high school were killed and twelve wounded. The students were hiking from Tel Aviv to Caesaria. Near Ceasaria they discovered an abandoned mortar shell which exploded when moved by one of the hikers.

The Municipal Council of Petach-Tikvah voted to name a new street in the town “Rehov 93” – the Street of the Ninety-Three – in memory of the ninety-three girls of the orthodox Beth Jacob school in Warsaw who committed suicide en masse when in danger of being violated by the Nazis.