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 135

135 passed by non-Palestinian lawyers prior to their admission to the Palestine Bar. On the other hand, representations made in regard to the restrictions imposed on the admission of doctors were without success. II. The Disturbances of April-October, 1936: The course of the disturbances in Palestine is fully dealt with in the Jerusalem Report. Following the murderous attacks of April 19th and 20th in Jaffa, the official view at first apparently was mat the situation was under control, and it was hoped that the trouble would not extend; but it very soon became clear that the outbreaks of violence in Jaffa were merely tne prelude to what was likely to be a far-reaching attack on the very foundations of Zionist work in Palestine, , Dr. Weizmann, who was in Palestine during the lu^t part of the troubles, arrived in London in May. Mr. Ben-Gurion also came to London to support the work of the Executive there, and, in-addition, whole-hearted assistance was given in the work of the Executive by a number of friends in London, including Lord Melchett and Professor L. B. Namier, whose help was of great importance throughout a trying and crucial period. Among others, too, mention should be made ,of Dr. Stephen S. Wise and Professor Felix Frankfurter, who came to England at the invitation of the Executive and gave their valued advice and assistance. The English Zionist Federation also gave their ready, and very helpful co-operation. Dr. Brodetsky, who had left for South Africa before the outbreak of the disturbances, to conduct the 1936 Keren Hayesod campaign there, and who was accordingly away during the first part of the troubles, kept in close touch with the London Office during his absence by cable and airmail. In South Africa he discussed the situation in Palestine on several occasions with General Smuts, who expressed his warm and continued sympathy for the Zionist cause, and he also saw the Prime Minister, and several other leaders in South African public life. One of the first tasks of the Political Department was to attempt to deal with certain reports in the press (reports which found some confirmation in the statement of the Colonial Secretary in the House of Commons on April 23rd), which seemed to indicate that instead of an unprovoked series of acts of aggression by Arabs on Jews, disturbances had occurred for which both parties were mutually responsible, and in which injuries had been inflicted by both sides. In this connection members of the Press, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the Colonial Office were interviewed, and such action as was possible was taken. It became clear very soon that in London the struggle would centre around :