Jewish Ex-soldiers in British Army Protest White Paper

A resolution of protest against the White Paper, adopted in Jerusalem by demobilized Jewish soldiers who served in the British army during the World War, has been transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and the Army Council by Colonel F. D. Samuel, former commander of the 40th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. The demobilized Jewish soldiers in Jerusalem served in the Jewish battalions, the Zion Mule Corps, the 38th, 39th and 40th battalions of the Royal Fusiliers (1st Judeans).

“We Jewish ex-soldiers, in volunteering, openly and clearly symbolized the sympathy and faith which the Jewish people repose in Great Britain, and expressed the desire of Jews the world over morally and materially to assist and complete the Allied victory,” says the resolution. “Jewish ex-soldiers were the first to renew the pioneer immigration to Palestine interrupted at the outbreak of war, in order to continue the Jewish people’s renewed constructive effort based on labor and peace. Today they feel bitterly disappointed and hurt by the British statement of policy which censures all Zionist endeavor and assails the Jewish people’s right to immigrate and to work and possess land in Palestine.

“We ex-soldiers hereby protest against this unjust, unhappy and unfriendly document issued by the British government. We appeal to the British people to defend the hard won right of Jews, deprived of soil and homeland, against restrictions and hindrances placed in the way of rebuilding their fatherland, which will benefit all the inhabitants of Palestine. We ex-soldiers pledge ourselves to redouble effort for the mobilization of all sections of the Jewish people standing shoulder to shoulder for the equal right of immigration and colonization, for the liberation of our people in Palestine, and for the full realization of our people’s hopes.”