Political report of the Executive of the Jewish Agency submitted to the ... Zionist Congress and the ... session of the Council of the Jewish Agency · 1937-08-01 · 8.1937 · p. Seite 14

14 of the inhabitants of the country and of their fitness to take over its government. Palestine was the only hope of hundreds of thousands of Jews in the Diaspora, especially in Germany. The setting up of this Legislative Council would cut off their last thread of hope. Divine Providence had entrusted Great Britain with the task of bringing back a dispersed people to its home after an exile of 2,000 years. It was a providential trust of which the Government could not divest itself in favour of others. The Agudath Israel, 'in accordance with its religious outlook, always respected the will of the Government under whose protection the Jews live. If it now found itself compelled with the rest of the Jews to oppose the setting up of the Legislative Council, this only showed how deep were the apprehensions of all sections of the Jewish people in regard to the proposed establishment of the Legislative Assembly at this hour and in this form. The Agudah, therefore, requested the High Commissioner to reconsider the question in the light of these observations. 14. The High Commissioner, in replying, emphasised that in proceeding with the matter the Government desired to carry out a pledge given in the past and that, while he greatly regretted the decision of the Jews not to take part in the Council, he sincerely believed that it was in the interest of the Jewish community to share in its work and responsibilities, and expressed the hope that Jewish fears would diminish and vanish and that before very long the Jews would see their way to taking part in the Council. As stated in the report on the political work in London, the Legislative Council scheme was the subject of a full debate in the House of Lords and House of Commons, in the course of which the policy adopted by the Government was subjected to severe criticism by members of all parties in both Houses. It was in the course of the debate in the House of Lords that the proposal to appoint a Royal Commission for Palestine was mooted for the first time. The proposal was then made in connection with the Legislative Council issue. After the debates the Government invited the Arab parties to send a delegation to London to state their case. Upon the outbreak of the disturbances the invitation was declined. In consequence of the outbreak and the subsequent appointment of the Royal Commission, no further steps were taken by the Government to give effect to the Legislative Council