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“In spite of the painful happenings which have recently taken place in Palestine, I still retain the hope that the reconstruction of the Jewish National Home will peacefully go forward along the lines traced by the original text of the Mandate,” declared Albert Thomas, Secretary of the International Labor Bureau of the League of Nations, in a statement he issued.
“I am convinced,” Mr. Thomas declared, “that in the accomplishment of this long task, the International Organization of Labor can play an essential part. I surely do not think of denying the importance of racial and religious considerations which tend to delay the establishment of a stable and peaceful regime. However, it seems to me that to attain this end, the solution of social and economic questions and, in particular, problems presented by the labor situation, is of the utmost importance.
“Just as long as the two ethnic elements which compose the laboring masses of the territory, will not enjoy similar working conditions which will pernut them to cooperate whole-heartedly in the defense of their rights and their interests, all danger of discord will not disappear from Palestine. The International Organization of Labor is trying to realize this social equality by all the means placed at its disposal by the peace treaties, and especially through the presence of its representative at the Permanent Commission of Mandates. While waiting for the time when a suitable adjustment of standards of living and of civilization between the Jewish and Arab populations may be established, the International Organization of Labor endeavors to bring it about that the present inequality, instead of acting as an element of discord, should be utilized as a stimulant to progress on the part of the less fortunate group. The results already noted in this field of activity are of an encouraging nature. The splendid example of the Jewish unions has been of great importance in the movement which now directs Arab workers toward developed forms of labor organization, and we are even able to witness the beginning of grouping Jewish and Arab elements in mixed trade unions.
“I persist in the conviction that the future will bring about a closer union of the two populations, and that the Mandatory Power will endeavor to attain this aim, so desirable to all who have the best interests of the country at heart, by loyally keeping to the principles formulated in the Mandate.”
BRUSSELS COMMITTEE SENDS REGRETS ON RECENT OUTBREAK
The Committee for Palestine of the Socialist International at Brussels ad-
dressed a communication to the Jewish Labor Federation in Palestine, declaring:
“It was with deep sorrow that we followed all the changing phases of the recent occurrences in Palestine. We share your grief and we weep for your dead. We know that you, workers, Chaluzim, went to the Land of Israel guided by an ideal doubly noble: to build the Jewish National Home, but to establish it upon a better social basis, drawing its strength from Labor, existing in harmony with the Arab workers.
“Imbued with the ideas of international socialism, you, Jewish workers, have taken upon yourselves this great task of planting in this little corner of Asia, which still harbors so many conflicting fanaticisms, a modern civilization, a society from which hatred, chauvinism, and narrow and limited nationalism would be banished forever.
“You intend to found the Jewish Homeland upon a union of Jewish and Arab workers, upon the joint labor of developing the country, with the Arabs profiting by the improvement in general conditions, without being in any way dominated by the Jews.
“In your Federation, you have endeavored to train the Arab workers, to educate them, to raise their standard of living. This was a difficult task, but with the cooperation of the world democracy, and especially of international socialism, there was every reason to expect good results.
“The Socialist Committee for Labor in Palestine, founded in Brussels in 1928, has taken as its aim the lending of moral support to this great colonization work of the laboring class and of Jewish democracy toward the creation of a Jewish National Home, established upon labor, justice, peace and understanding with the Arabs.
“But alas! Just as with everywhere else, this policy of labor and peace is contrary to the special interests of certain elements. The proprietors of great estate looked with apprehension upon this emancipation of the Arab masses, whom they wished to maintain in a state of savagery in order the better to dominate them. In the same manner, the fanatical religious leaders did not wish to see these masses escape the grip which they maintain upon them.
“These effendis and these fanatics have carried on a propaganda of hatred and provocation. Treacherously spreading calumnies among the Arab masses, they have profited by the quarrels around the Wailing Wall, and have succeeded in arousing the fanatical masses, and have even been able to drive them to massacre, to bloodshed, to destruction of property.
“This is what became of your policy of labor combined with peace.
“But need we despair of the future? We refuse to do so.
“The British government is determined to remain true to the traditions of the Labor Party and to the obligations of its leaders toward the Jewish National Home. It will punish all those who are responsible. It will create conditions of absolute security for all, without any exception, as well as the conditions necessary for the development of the Jewish National Home, according to the terms of the Palestine Mandate.
“The recent declaration of the government leaders in London and Geneva upon this point, are reassuring in all respects.
“And you, Jewish workers, continue with your task, attract the Arab workers to your side, make them understand that it is not Jewish colonization that can do them harm and injure their interests, but that it is the effendis and the fanatics who want to keep them in ignorance, to dominate them, to keep them in a state of slavery. ‘The Union of Jewish and Arab Laborers’ this must be your password in reply to these agitators and these exploiters.
“The international social democracy, which understands all the grandeur and the difficulty of your task, will not refuse its support to you. Therefore, continue your work in full confidence, and you will be victorious. The Jewish National Home will be built upon the principles of labor, justice and peace with the Arabs, upon the principles of international socialism.”
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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.
