William G.A. Ormsby-Gore, Colonial Secretary, indicated in the House of Commons today a disposition to take no further action on the Palestine labor immigration schedule for the current four months ending July 31 which was rejected by the Jewish Agency for Palestine as insufficient.
Asked by Geoffrey Mander, Liberal, what action would be taken regarding Palestine immigration in view of the agency’s rejection of the 220 certificates remaining after various deductions, Mr. Ormsby-Gore said:
“The Jewish Agency has forwarded a complaint to the British Government. On the general question I have made clear frequently that the Government cannot depart from the strict letter of the (Ramsay) MacDonald letter to Dr. (Chaim) Weizmann (in 1931) until the receipt of the Royal Commission report.”
A.C. Crossley, Conservative asked: “Does this mean that the 220 certificated immigrants will not go to Palestine, and why should a minister be menaced by the Jewish Agency?”
The Colonial Secretary replied: ” I am not in the least menaced by the Jewish Agency. If they do not want these 220 certificates, the Immigration Department (of the Palestine Government) has a perfect right to dispose of them.”
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