Zionist Actions Committee Adjourns Without Taking Decision on London Conference

The Small Zionist Actions Committee which was convened to decide on whether to accept or reject the British invitation to participate in the forthcoming London parley on Palestine, adjourned today without reaching any definite decision.

Instead, the meeting adopted a resolution stating that it “noted the negotiations” which are now being conducted between the British Government and the Jewish Agency with regard to the conference on Palestine, and has also taken into consideration the statement of the executive of the Jewish Agency that the results of these negotiations will be submitted to the Actions Committee after they are concluded.

Early today it was indicated that a communication to the Agency might be expected from British Foreign Minister Ernest Bevin within the next 24 hours, enabling the Agency to attend the London conference. It was reported that the decision of the Agency’s executive, submitted by Dr. Chaim Weizmann on Aug. 16 to Colonial Secretary George Hall, contained the following conditions:

1. The Agency cannot and will not participate in the conference on the basis of the “federalization plan” outlined to the House of Commons by Herbert Morrison, Lord President of the Council.

2. The Agency will participate if the basis is the creation of a Jewish state.

3. The Agency reserves the right to appoint its own representatives.

4. The Agency is agreed that other important Jewish bodies shall be invited to the conference, but the invitations must come from the Agency.

Opinion in the Zionist Actions Committee appeared to favor upholding the demands of the Jewish Agency executive, which amount to a rejection of the British invitation, since the British Government has so far insisted upon the “federalization plan” as the basis for negotiations. There is, however, an evident desire to keep the matter open in view of the reported last-minute efforts being made by Foreign Minister Bevin to secure the participation of the Jewish Agency.

The Hashomer Hatzair, left wing of the Palestine Laborites, today adopted a resolution declaring that the participation of the Jewish Agency in the London conference must depend on the following three conditions: 1. A guarantee for the integrality of Palestine; 2. A guarantee that 100,000 European Jews will be admitted to Palestine irrespective of the outcome of the conference; 3. The detained members of the Jewish Agency executive and of the Jewish National Council must be released.

The Central Committee of the Mapai, Palestine Jewish Labor Party, today adopted a decision rejecting the British “federalization plan” as a basis for negotiations. It urged the Jewish Agency to participate in the London conference only if the question of the establishment of a Jewish state is introduced during the talks and if the Agency is given the right to invite all Jewish representatives outside of its own ranks.