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 137

137 on a number of occasions. These included addresses by Dr. Weizmànn to the Royal Central Asian Society and the Royal Institute of International Affairs, and, on two opcasions, to the members of the Palestine Parliamentary Committee in the House of Commons. Parliament: Contact was maintained throughout with various Members of Parliament of all parties, and despite the growth and organisation of a definite pro-Arab group in Parliament, there was considerable support for the Zionist point of view. A Debate on Palestine which took place on the Colonial Office vote on June 19, 1936, was, on the whole, decidedly friendly to the Zionist cause, and outstanding speeches were made by, among others, Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Herbert Morrison, and Mr. L. .S. Amery. Mr. James de Rothschild took the opportunity in the course of the Debate to urge the justice of the Jewish claim that the Jews should be enabled to defend themselves by being allowed to enrol in the defence forces of the country. The Palestine Parliamentary Committee was active, and in addition to the convening of meetings for the purposes of information and discussion (the addresses given by Dr. Weizmann have already been referred to) sent a deputation to interview the Colonial Secretary with regard to the proposal to suspend Jewish immigration. A considerable number of questions were asked in the House by various members, while many M. P's. took the opportunity at different times to press the impolicy and injustice of any concession to Arab violence, and above all, of a suspension of immigation, whether immediate or during the sessions of the Royal Commission. The Immigration Schedule and the Disturbances : The disturbances broke out in April, that is to say, at about 1he time when the Immigration Schedule for the six months from April to October 1936 was due for publication. For some time grave anxity was felt with regard to the Government's intentions on this subject. Despite the statements of the Colonial Secretary in the House of Commons that there would be no giving way to threats in Palestine, there was reason to believe that a suspension of immigration was in fact under serious consideration. Opposition to such a step was pressed with all possible force by the Executive and friends in London, simultaneously with parallel action in Jerusalem. The announcement, of the schedule by the High Commissioner on the 18th May, as, too, the granting of permission about the same time for the landing of goods at Tel Aviv, was . naturally, received with considerable satisfaction. Interviews with the Colonial Office and the Prime Minister. Interviews took place on various occasions throughout this period with representatives of the Colonial Office, and among other matters raised in the course of the conversations was the vita? necessity for stronger action by the Government in dealing with thfc