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 134

134 which followed a few weeks later in the Commons. It was clear that there was a large measure of opposition to the proposal in both Houses of Parliament, and among all parties, and that this opposition would have to be taken into account. The Government thereupon decided to invite an Arab Delegation to come to England and discuss the Legislative Council question; in addition the Delegation was to "be at liberty to put for-' ward their views on land and immigration." This invitation was accepted by the Arab leaders. Any further development in this direction was, however, stopped by the murderous attacks on Jews in Jaffa which broke out on April 19, 1938, and the subsequent virtual assumption of responsibility for the continuation of the strike and of the disturbances by the Arab leaders. Land: In his statement of January 29, 1936, the High Commissioner had indicated that the Government had in view legislation of a drastic character designed to restrict the sale of land, so as to render inalienable in the case of any land-owner, a certain minimum "subsistence area.r' There could be no doubt of the serious consequences which these proposals would have implied for the whole future of Jewish settlement on the land, and, concurrently with action in Jerusalem, energetic representations were made in London to the Colonial Secretary (at that time Mr. J. It. Thomas), in opposition to the proposed measures. It was urged that such legislation would result in economic stagnation, that it was in direct conflict with the undertaking given in the Prime Minister's Letter to Dr. Weizmann, and that in the interests of everybody concerned, what was wanted was not a policy of resstriction, but a policy of development. In regard to this matter, too, the outbreak of the disturbances and the subsequent announcement of the Government's intention to appoint a Royal Commission put an end for the time being to any further developments. Proposed Increase in Qualification for Capitalist Immigrants: Among other matters which came up for consideration and action during this period was a proposal to increase the capital qualification for the entry of immigrants under Category A (i) from £1,000 to £2,000. Strong representations were made against this proposal, and the Executive were ultimately informed that the Government did not intend to proceed with it. Other Questions: Among other matters discussed at this time were economic, questions, in particular the question of Palestine tariffs, and also that of Imperial Preference; the Government surplus; the position of the illegal immigrants; and the question of Transjordan. Discussions took place, toe, with regard to the possibility of undertaking major schemes of development in the Negev and elsewhere. Some concession was made by the Government in regard to the conduct of the Foreign Advocates' Examination which has to be