A strong defense of the British government’s policy on the Jewish immigration question in Palestine was made today by Minister of Justice Jan C. Smuts at the Kere# Hayesod dinner at Port Elizabeth.
“The British government has been much criticized,” General Smuts, who has been noted for his exceptionally friendly attitude towards Jews, declared, “but I am convinced that the British more than any other people in the world are capable of understanding the difficulties of other people.”
Palestine, he said, has always been a divided country. The government must keep an eye on the Arabs as well as the Jews.
General Smuts declared that he is convinced that the “government desires to do justice.
“Some silly people talk about changing the mandatory power, but they are making the mistake of their lives. I would prefer the British Empire behind me,” the popular statesman concluded, “than any other power.”
Other speakers included Nahum Sokolow, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Palestine and president of the World Zionist Organization. It was announced that the Keren Hayesod fund has thus far reached a total of £93,000, of which Johannesburg is providing £48,000.
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