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 32

32 The suspension of immigration was thus shelved but not definitely averted. Early in August a rumour appeared in the Palestine Arab press that the High Commissioner had been authorised to suspend immigration. The attention of the Government was drawn to this report and it was promptly denied in an official broadcast. 40. At the end of August, however, a new crisis arose. 'The mediation of the Iraqi Foreign Minister was known to have been conducted on the assumption that in the event of its successful outcome Jewish immigration would be suspended. Special efforts again became necessary to defend Jewish immigration and very urgent representations were made by the Jewish Agency in London. The alleged terms of Nuri Said Pasha's mediation which appeared in the "Palestine Post" in Jerusalem were officially denied by the Colonial Secretary. The momentous decision taken by His Majesty's Government on September 7 brought about the termination of disorders without Jewish immigration being sacrificed in this end. There still remained the question of the fate of the autumn schedule which in the light of the statement made by the Secretary of State on July 29th seemed to be in the balance. The customary joint investigation of the labour market was, however, duly carried out and on November 11, the Executive submitted its half yearly application for 10,695 certificates. There were negotiations with the Government, both in London and in Jerusalem, on the issue of this schedule and in December a schedule of 1,800 certificates was granted. Its size, and the fact that it represented only 17 % of the figure requested, came as a great disappointment. But the issue of the schedule as such caused satisfaction. The uninterrupted continuation of Jewish immigration all through the critical period had thus been finally secured. EMERGENCY MEASURES 41. The primary concern of the Jewish Agency from the moment disorders broke out was for the protection of life and property of the Jewish population. The Political Department very soon found itself in the position of the nerve centre of the Yishuv.