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Tom Williams Ridicules “muftis of Britain”

August 18, 1939
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Tom Williams Labor Member of the British Parliament last night told the World Zionist Congress not to despair because “no referee will count ten over you not even colonial secretaries.”

Wildly cheered by the approximately 600 delegates and 1,000 spectators Mr. Williams ridiculed the “muftis of Britain” and asserted that “just as in Palestine the Mufti was powerful three years ago and has now been reduced to nothing the same may happen to the British Colonial Secretary because a secretary is not everlasting like Parliament.”

Calling on the congress to support its present leadership the laborite urged the Jews not to despair but to fight with greater determination. “In a world of Hitlers Mussolinis Colonial Secretaries and appeasement you have survived and will survive.” he said. “No referee will count ten over you not even Colonial Secretaries.”

He asserted that the Parliamentarians who had opposed Britain’s Palestine policy would continue to oppose it “until the White Paper is submitted to an international tribune or withdrawn.”

Mr. Williams warned the League of Nations that if it submitted to British pressure and approved the White Paper at its September session. “it will be a dreadful blow to the League.”

“White Paper or no White Paper.” he concluded amid applause “Jewish immigration to Palestine must continue.”

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