Only Jewish tourists are required to post securities when applying for a visa to Palestine, it was admitted today in the House of Commons by Malcolm MacDonald, new Colonial Secretary, when pressed for an explanation of the rule by Col. Josiah Wedgwood.
Col. Wedgwood questioned MacDonald about the refusal of the Palestine government to issue a three-month tourist visa to A. Rosenblatt, a Liverpool Jew, on the grounds that he lacked the necessary sixty pounds security to insure his return to England when the three months are up.
ATTACKS SYSTEM
Col. Wedgwood attacked this system of securities, pointing out that it works hardships for poor tourists who desire to visit Palestine and can pay for their passage, but lack the necessary security. He also showed how detrimental this is to Palestine, which is an attraction to tourists of all faiths and from all parts of the world.
In replying, Mr. MacDonald attempted to justify the security-rule by stating that it has proven to be the most effective check against illegal immigrants who come to the country as tourists, find jobs there, and then fail to return to their own countries when the alloted time is up. For that reason, he said, he will not ask the High Commissioner to reconsider this regulation.
Col. Wedgwood, however, refused to accept this answer. When
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.
