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 27

27 Arab political pressure in Palestine and elsewhere was directed to effecting this breach in the framework of Jewish political rights. The energies of the Jewish Agency were equally focussed on defending this position which was clearly the most essential to hold, though the easiest to lose. The issue of the suspension of immigration became the crux of the political contest in Palestine. 33. The struggle against the suspension of immigration passed through a number of stages. When the disturbances broke out on April 19th. The application of the Jewish Agency for the labour schedule for the half-year April to September had only just been submitted (April 15, 1936) and was still under the consideration of the Government. The High Commissioner thought it prudent to put off his decision on the schedule for a short time and the Jewish Agency agreed not to press for the immediate grant of the schedule while ehere was hope of the situation being brought quickly under control. When it appeared, however, that a prolonged crisis had to be faced and that the grant of the schedule or otherwise became a stake in the political struggle, the Executive felt apprehensive about the fate of the schedule and had to inform the High Commissioner on May 17, 1936, that it would regard a further postponement of the grant of the schedule "as a gross breach of faith" and "a surrender to violence." The schedule was granted. The Executive was informed that there had never been any question of not issuing the schedule and that a decision to grant it had already been taken. In fact, the schedule was published in the Official Gazette on the 18th May, 1936. The application of the Jewish Agency had been for 11,200 certificates. The schedule amounted to 4,500 of which 4,000 were granted to the Jewish Agency. 34. It would be difficult to overrate the effect of the grant of the schedule upon the militant groups in the Arab camp. Not only had the demand for the complete stoppage of Jewish immigration not been granted but the Government had taken a step in the opposite direction. Whatever errors Government may have committed in dealing with the disorders, the grant of the schedule represented an assertion of mandatory policy which made a deep impression. As the disorders continued and terrorism increased, appeals were directed to the Jewish Agency both from Arab and from various non-official quarters that it should voluntarily suspend immigration as the only possible way out from an unbearable situation. Increas-