The view that the White Paper is not British statesmanship’s “final word” on the Palestine question was expressed here today by an official Zionist organ as the document’s provisions banning further Jewish immigration and restricting land sales to Jews went into effect.
Declaring that “today is a significant date in the history of Palestine and the Jewish people,” the Zionist Review states: “The White Paper, although it exists, is not seriously considered the final word of British statesmanship. The whole artificial edifice of half-truths and faulty arguments has broken down under the impact of the great events of the last five years.” The editorial quotes Churchill’s opposition to the White Paper, voiced before he became Prime Minister, during the debate on its adoption, and declared “Can anyone deny today that Churchill saw much further than the men of Munich.”
The Review contrasts the aid Palestine Jews have given the war effort with that given by the Arabs. It reveals that while 23,000 Palestine Jews enlisted the Arabs were able to recruit only 8,000 in Palestine, Syria, Lebanon and Transjordan together and that of these 5,000 “have already disappeared — not in battle.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
