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Zionists Map Fight on Palestine Policy Before Mandates Commission; Weizmann Visits Geneva

June 1, 1939
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A campaigning to defeat Britain’s Palestine policy before the League of Nations Mandates Commission has been started by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, who arrived here today after negotiations in Geneva. The Zionist leader expressed the hope that the Mandates Commission, at its June session, would disapprove the British plan as incompatible with the League mandate.

Among those with whom Dr. Weizmann conferred over the weekend was Prof. William E. Rappard, vice-chairman of the Mandates Commission. He is expected to make another trip to Geneva, but will not remain there during the commission session.

(Zionist quarters in London expressed the belief that if the Mandates Commission finds the British policy inconsistent with the mandate, the Government will have to resubmit it to Parliament to secure assent for application to the League Council for modification of the mandate. Since Parliamentary approval of the White Paper was secured by a narrow majority, it is believed the Government will have tremendous difficulties in securing approval for the application after the policy has been branded by the Mandates Commission as in violation of the mandate.)

Dr. Weizmann has abandoned his contemplated trip to the United States until after the Zionist Congress in August in view of the necessity of watching developments in London and Geneva. Remaining in Paris for several days, he does not intend to negotiate with the French Government, but is conferring with Zionist leaders. While engaged in combating the British policy, the Jewish Agency Executive is nevertheless interested in finding funds to finance the admission of 25,000 refugees which is conditionally provided for in the White Paper.

Meanwhile, certain Zionist groups in Paris have expressed disappointment over the action of the Swiss authorities in prohibiting protest rallies against the British policy. They now doubt whether Geneva is the proper scene for the Zionist Congress since the major speeches will be in denunciation of the White Paper.

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