Palestine Jewish National Council Unanimously Rejects British Plan of Policy

The Jewish National Council has unanimously resolved not to participate in the legislative council for Palestine which was proposed in the British government’s statement of policy announced Monday. The resolution declared that the Council will not share in any parliamentary institutions calculated to arrest the establishment of the Jewish National Home.

In a unanimously adopted proclamation for submission to the government the Jewish National Council rejected the British government’s statement of policy and expressed the hope that the statement “does not in this case express the will of the British people.” The Council also endorsed Dr. Weizmann’s protest against the British government for its breach of promise to the Jews. While two Revisionist members and M. M. Ussishkin, head of the Jewish National Fund, abstained from voting on the resolution not to participate in the legislative council the Revisionists concurred in the resolution rejecting the government’s statement.

VIOLATES HISTORIC PLEDGE

The proclamation declares that the British government’s declaration violated the historic pledge that the British people assumed with regard to the Jews. The statement, the Jewish National Council charges, is “barren of constructive phases and vitiates the undertaking regarding the Jewish National Home which was given to the entire Jewish people and not only to the Jewish community of Palestine.

“The National Home without immigration and land is a cruel jest and political hypocrisy. The Jewish community in Palestine rejects the statement and hopes that the government does not express in this case the will of the British people. The right to constitute the Jewish National Home was confirmed by the League of Nations and the United States and reaffirmed by all British governments since the Balfour Declaration.

“The Jewish community in Palestine will not take any part in parliamentary institutions calculated to arrest the establishment of the Jewish National Home. The prosperity and progress of the Arab population is more linked with Jewish immigration and colonization than with all the activities of the British administration.

COOPERATION WITH ARABS

“We consider cooperation with our Arab neighbors the most faithful guarantee for the continued prosperity of the peace of the country. We appeal to the English people and the entire civilized world to vindicate our rights, and we urge the Jewish people in all countries to stand fast.”

Immediately after the new British statement and the Simpson report were published an emergency meeting of the Jewish National Council was called into session. It conferred all through the night and reconvened this afternoon when the above decision and proclamation were adopted and made public.