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 112

APPENDIX V.l. GOVERNING LETTER TO THE MEMORANDUM OF 1 THE JEWISH AGENCY TO THE PERMANENT MANDATES COMMISSION FOR 1936 London, 4th May, 1937. HIS EXCELLENCY, THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR PALESTINE, GAVERNMENT OFFICES, JERUSALEM. YOUR EXCELLENCY, On behalf of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, recognised under Article 4 of the Palestine Mandate, I have the honour to request that the accompanying memorandum on the development of the Jewish National Home in Palestine during 1936 may be transmitted, through the proper channels, to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations for the information of the Permanent Mandates Commission. 2. The year under review was marred by disturbances of unprecedented scope, duration and gravity. Many months of unchecked agitation led up to an outbreak of violence in Jaffa on April 19th, 1936, when Jews following their peaceful avocations were the victims of murderous assaults by an Arab mob. Before long a wave of lawlessness was sweeping all over the country. Innumerable attacks were made on Jewish settlements and individual Jews; traffic convoys and military patrols were waylaid and attacked by armed bands, much property was destroyed, and communications were seriously interfered with. The Arab strike, for the maintenance and extension of which the Arab Higher Committee continually appealed, threatened to paralyse the economic life of the country, and contributed to the prolongation of the disorders. During 1936, eighty-two Jews were killed and three hundred and sixty-nine wounded, while the damage to Jewish property is estimated at some £250,000, including £67,000 in respect of plantations and crops. The disorders came temporarily to an end with the calling-off of the strike by the Arab Higher Committee in October, 1936. Towards the end of the year there were renewed attacks on Jewish settlements, and murders both of Jews and of Arabs who attempted to resist terrorist pressure, with the result that in the first quarter of 1937 eleven more Jews have been killed and many wounded. At the time of writing, security of life and property continues to be signally lacking, to the grave concern of the Jewish population, and of all the peaceful inhabitants of Palestine. 3. The Jewish Agency has, to its great regret, felt constrained on à number of occasions to express grave doubts as to the adequacy