Stranded Palestine Immigrants Subject of Question in Commons

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The question of the 140 Jewish families from Iraq and Kurdistan who are desirous of settling in Palestine and who are now stranded in Bagdad was raised for the third time in the House of Commons today by Commander Kenworthy. The question was also raised by Col. Josiah Wedgwood.

Col. Leopold H. Amery, British Colonial Secretary, in his reply declared that he received reports concerning this matter from Iraq and Palestine to the effect that the Palestine government is investigating the cases of these families and that doubt exists in the mind of the government as to whether these prospective immigrants possess independent means necessary to qualify them for admission to Palestine.

The resolution authorizing the Chancellor of the Exchequer to guarantee the $22,500,000 loan of the Palestine government will be submitted for debate in the House of Commons Wednesday.

It was learned today on good authority that during the debate Col. Kenworthy will raise the question of the obstacles put by the Palestine government in the way of Jewish immigration to Palestine, of the allocation of state and waste lands for Jewish colonization and of the possibility of opening up Transjordania for Jewish colonization.

Mrs. Florence Bache of New York, has been awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honor because of her contributions to charities.

In July. 1919. Mrs. Bache was decorated with the Medal of Queen Elizabeth by the King of the Belgians, in recognition of the services rendered by her to Belgium during the war. Previously she had received a Belgian medal for her work for the war babies’ “cradle.” Subsequently, in recognition of her services rendered to the population of devastated French provinces, the French Government awarded her the Medaille de la Reconnaissance Francaise.