Jewish Agency Executive Rejects British Plan As “unacceptable As Basis for Discussion”

The Jewish Agency executive meeting here announced today that the British proposals on Palestine are considered “unacceptable as a basis for discussions.”

At the same time, it voted to convene a special session of the Zionist Actions Committee somewhere in Europe before the end of August. The meeting, which is expected to take place in France, will probably be attended by only half the members of the Actions Committee, because it is felt that it would be unadvisable to strip Palestine and other Jewish centers of all Zionist leaders at the present time.

The executive also announced that it is planning to submit to the Peace Conference a memorandum drawing the treaty-making nations’ attention to certain “omissions” regarding Jewish needs and rights.

An Agency spokesman commenting on its rejection of the “federalization” plan, said that the Zionists felt it was unacceptable for the following reasons:

The plan offers no independence to either Jews or Arabs and the self-government provisions are illusory since important powers are left in the hands of the High Commissioner and even those assigned to the provincial legislatures require the approval of the Commissioner.

While depriving the Jewish people of their rights under the mandate in eighty-five percent of the country, the plan denies them the right to decide immigration policy in even the fifteen percent of the country allotted to them, which is even smaller than the Jewish state recommended by the Peel Commission.

Lastly, there is no finality to the scheme, except for those sections of it which deny Jewish rights in eighty-five percent of the country. It provides for arbitrary rule by the British for an indefinite period.

CHARGE PEACE TREATY DRAFTS DO NOT DEAL ADEQUATELY WITH JEWISH PROBLEMS

Discussing the Peace Conference’s draft treaties which he said are “most inadequate in reference to the basic necessities of the Jewish communities in defeated Axis and satellite countries,” the Agency spokesman said it would demand the following provisions:

1. A stipulation for the adequate protection of Jewish communities in the Axis and satellite nations.

2. Assurances of restitution of Jewish rights and properties.

3. Allocation of property left by heirless Jews to the Jewish community instead of allowing it to revert to the state.

The executive meeting is continuing, to discuss the remaining urgent problems, but there will be no session tomorrow because of Tisha B’Av. Dr. Nahum Goldmann left tonight for Washington.