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Zionists Here Express Satisfaction with Commons Debate

May 25, 1939
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A spokesman for the National Emergency Committee on Palestine, expressing satisfaction with the opposition to Britain’s Palestine plan evidenced during the Commons debate, said today that the committee would concentrate for the time being on rallying American Jewry behind the committee would concentrate for the time being on rallying American Jewry behind the Jewish homeland and maintaining their morale, pending receipt of a cue from the Jewish Agency on the next concrete battlefront.

The low majority of 89 won by the Government in Commons, despite the fact that the question was made an issue of confidence, is indicative of the widespread opposition in England to the terms of the White Paper, this spokesman said. There was a good possibility that the House would have voted disapproval had not the Government used the party whip, he added.

Dedication of the Jewish Palestine Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair on Sunday will be made the occasion for a demonstration against the British policy, the committee announced. The ceremonies, to be held in the Court of Peace, “will be symbolic of the refusal of the Jews to surrender to the forces of might,” it was stated. Speakers will include Prof. Albert Einstein, Mayor LaGuardia, Lieutenant-Governor Charles G. Polecat, Senator Robert F. Wagner, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Dr. Solomon Goldman, who will arrive here from Chicago on Friday, Louis Lipsky and Dr. Israel Goldstein. Broadcasts from London will be made by David Lloyd George and Dr. Chaim Weizmann.

Fair officials estimated that about 100,000 Jewish visitors from New York and 100,000 from 42 other cities would be on hand for the ceremonies. Special trains will bring delegations from the West. One party of 32 has chartered a special airplane from Chicago.

Regardless of action taken by the British administration, the work of land redemption by Jews in Palestine will go on, said Menachem M. Ussishkin, 76-year-old world president of the Jewish National Fund, in a cabled message from Jerusalem to Dr. Goldstein, president of the American J.N.F. He acknowledged receipt of $250,000 remitted to Jerusalem from New York following publication of the White Paper.

The United Synagogue of America, representing some 1,200 Conservative synagogues and affiliated bodies, issued a statement in protest against the White Paper. A similar statement was issued yesterday by the Rabbinical Assembly, organization of Conservative rabbis. The Jewish War Veterans of the United States made public a resolution of its National Executive Committee promising to devote its “complete moral and physical resources to compel the British Government to perform its obligation under the mandate,” asking American intercession with Britain and pledging to seek the support of other veterans’ organizations.

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