Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 432

a wise one, at a time when the Palestine Treasury had accumulated a substantial surplus. Whatever the financial expediency of the measure, however, it was urged that while the Loan made possible certain useful developments, the proposed allocation of the expenditure was unduly one-sided in character and failed to take adequately into account legitimate Jewish requirements. 11. On the initiative of Mr. Barnett Janner, M.P., arrangements were made for the visit of small parties of Members of Parliament to Palestine in the spring of 1934 and in April, 1935. In the course of these visits, the Members were enabled to see a good deal of the various aspects of Jewish life and work in Palestine, and to judge for themselves of the importance of the developments there taking place. There can be no doubt as to the value of thus bringing Members of Parliament into direct contact with the actual needs and problems of the situation in Palestine. 12. The Political Department has been in frequent touch with the officers of the Palestine Parliamentary Committee, with whom they have co-operated on various occasions. The Committee, which consists of Members of Parliament interested in Palestine, held two well-attended meetings which were addressed by Colonel Buchan and , Colonel Wedgwood on one occasion, and by Dr. Sokolow and Professor Brodetsky on the other. The recent appointment of Colonel Buchan (now Lord Tweedsmuir) to the position of Governor-General of Canada is a serious loss to the Palestine Committee, of which he was the Chairman, and Colonel Buchan's valuable help and advice in the House will be much missed. 13. In connection with the earlier meeting a carefully prepared memorandum (subsequently reprinted in a revised edition) was circulated to all Members of the House of Commons, dealing with a number of the points raised in an anti-Zionist leaflet previously distributed by members of the National League. Interviews with General Smuts and Others. 14. The interest taken by General Smuts in the growth of the Jewish National Home in Palestine is well known. The opportunity was taken during his visit to London last year to interview General Smuts when a full and useful discussion on various aspects of the country's problems took place. Other contacts with influential non-Jewish friends were maintained and mention may be made of conversations which took place with leading dignitaries of the Church of England. Non-Jewish Press in England. 15. Descriptions of Palestine and its problems have received considerable prominence in the general press in England during recent years, and the impressions of English visitors, journalists and others, to Palestine have been conspicuously featured. 16. In general these articles have paid tribute to the striking developments that are taking place as a result of Jewish immigra- 43 2