In an hour of political need, the Labor government of Great Britain has invited the cooperation of two of the most distinguished British Jews who have rendered great services to the British Empire in administering her colonial possessions.
Sir Herbert Samuel, Liberal leader and former High Commissioner of Palestine, known for his sympathies to Zionism, and the Marquis of Reading, former Viceroy of India and also a Liberal, figure prominently in connection with the critical situation in Palestine.
Sir Herbert, who has been spending his vacation in Prague, Czecho-Slovakia, was recalled to the British capital, where he is expected any hour. The London press suggests that Sir Herbert Samuel’s speedy return to London is in connection with the possibility of his reappointment to the post of High Commissioner for Palestine, which he held during the period 1921-1925.
In connection with the visit of the Marquis of Reading to Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald on Sunday afternoon, notwithstanding the tradition of British Prime Ministers not to transact any business on Sunday, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns from reliable sources that the Marquis of Reading is prepared to proceed as a special commissioner of the British government to Palestine.
It is understood, however, that Reading will insist on two conditions prior to the acceptance of the mission to create peace between the Moslem Arabs and the Jews, a task similar to that which he faced as Viceroy of India. The first condition is that the area before the Western Wall of the Temple, known as the Wailing Wall, legally the property of the Moslem Supreme Council, be expropriated by the Palestine government in order to enable the promulgation of regulations fixing certain hours of worship for the Jews at the Temple and certain hours for the Moslems, since the site is holy to both religions.
The second condition demanded by the Marquis of Reading is that a permanent commission on the Wailing Wall be appointed by the British government, to consist of an English judge and two Palestinian judges, one an Arab and one a Jew. The commission would be charged with the task of regulating all problems arising in connection with the question of the rights of access and worship at the Wall.
It was reported today that Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, addressed a strong message of protest to Prime Minister MacDonald. Dr. Weizmann was urgently recalled to London and is expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon.
Felix M. Warburg of New York, who was recently elected chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Jewish Agency Council, including Zionists and non-Zionists, has been asked to prolong his stay in London for a number of days in order to confer on the Palestine situation.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
