Royal Commission Warned Entry Halt Would Cause Crisis

Warning was served on the British Royal Commission at an open session today by Moshe Shertok, head of the political department of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, that stoppage of Jewish immigration into the Holy Land would precipitate a crisis.

Declaring Jewish economy in Palestine was based on a continued flow of immigration to feed expanding industry and building, Mr. Shertok urged an increased labor immigration schedule and easing of restrictions on entry of dependents and capitalists. He suggested that in the latter category Palestine admit persons possessing from $1,250 to $2,500, instead of the present figure of $5,000.

The question of illegal immigration again came to the fore with the charge by Eliahu Epstein, of the Jewish Agency, that such entry by Arabs was resulting in lowering of wage, living standards and sanitary conditions.

Illicit Arab immigration, Mr. Epstein declared, stimulated the disorders of 1933 and 1936.

Questioning by the commissioners as to the Jewish Agency’s views and desires in this connection drew from Mr. Shertok a demand that the illicit immigration be halted and the assertion that if those illegal immigrants could be absorbed, Jews should be admitted in their stead.

HOLDS ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY UNDER-ESTIMATED

Mr. Shertok declared the Government underestimated the economic absorptive capacity of the country since it was saturated with Arabs who had entered illegally.

Lord Peel asked whether there was any objection to legal immigration from Arab countries, Mr. Shertok replying that as far as the general supply of labor was concerned, the Government was under obligation to encourage Jewish immigration to facilitate establishment of the Jewish national home.

“Does facilitate mean Jewish immigration?” Lord Peel asked.

Mr. Shertok replied affirmatively.

“Do you mean immigration should be monopolized by Jews, not allowing Arabs to enter?” Lord Peel inquired.

Dr. Arthur Ruppin, head of the special economic department of the Zionist Executive, outlined the history of Jewish colonization and cited its advantages to the Arabs. Land prices had increased tenfold, he said.

Sir Laurie Hammond, a member of the commission, interjected a query as to whether the price rise resulted from speculation. Dr. Ruppin replied that prices rise in every country where a large immigration is taking place. He added that Jewish discovery of water resources enabled great expansion of agriculture and no one was able to foresee the limits on development made possible by irrigation.