Jews Likely to Join London Conference on Palestine; Decision Reported Reached

Three members of the Jewish Agency executive –Prof. Selig Brodetsky, Dr. Nahum Goldmann and Berl Locker — were expected to return here to day from Paris with a decision they reached together with David Ben Gurion, chairman of the executive, which is likely to bring the Jews into the conference on Palestine now going on here.

(Reuter reported today that “a proposal for Jewish participation in the Palestine conference has been authorized by David Ben Gurion,” The report quoted a Jewish Agency spokesmen in London as stating that the three member of the Jewish Agency executive who consulted Ben Gurion in Paris were authorized to approach Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin and to propose to him the Agency’s participation in the conference.)

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns that no actual decision on participation in the conference has been reached as yet by the Jewish Agency executive. Even the size of the Agency’s delegation to the parley has not yet been decided upon. Originally the Jewish Agency intended to have a small delegation, but it seems that the delegation will now be larger, since the government invited sixteen Jewish representatives who are not affiliated with the Jewish Agency.

Meanwhile, the executive of the Agudas Israel today announced its official attitude towards the conference. The announcement said that the Agudah favors Jewish participation in the parley, but believes that its own participation would serve no purpose if all other invited Jewish organizations do not attend. As it now appears that the Jewish Agency will join the talks, the Agudah leaders hope that friendly cooperation will be maintained at the conference itself, despite different points of view held by the various Jewish groups invited to the parley.

A Colonial Office spokesman today said that prospects for Jewish participation in the conference were “better now than they had ever been.” The conference, it was indicated, is not likely to resume before Friday even if Jewish delegations decide to attend.