Tribute to the vision of the Chaluzim, reproach to the critics of the British policy in Palestine, and reference to the strategic importance of Palestine, formed part of an address by Ramsay MacDonald, British labor leader and Parliamentarian at Cowdenbeath.
“Rightly or wrongly, we have contracted obligations in Palestine” , he said. “To attribute the cost of the maintenance of the Palestine garrison to these obligations is an act of dishonesty. It is in fact the Near East army, and not the Palestinian army. Palestine, it is true, must learn to pay it. own way and would do so soon, if given a chance. Public men having a firm grip of Near East politics know that Palestine has an importance not usually overrated”.
Alluding to the great changes introduced by Jewish immigration, Mr. MacDonald said these immigrants are largely idealists with the vision of the New Jerusalem and of a revived Israel. Among the chaluzim, he said, were University men who were working as laborers in draining swamps and building roads, men who see their toil as an honor to their race. Mr. MacDonald decriel the attempts to make difficulties between Jew and Arab, saying these difficulties were largely artificial and could be successfully overcome with wise handling.
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.
