Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 439

Commissioner's decision, fixing the absorptive capacity at 6,500 and deducting therefrom 1,000 on account of illegal Jewish entrants and settlers, caused a painful disappointment. Once again the schedule had been fixed at the same total in apparent disregard of the great expansion of economic enterprise and the increasingshortage of workers. On the other hand, for the first time the Government had resorted to the penalty of reducing the labour schedule on account of immigrants who had settled without authority. The urgent efforts of the new Executive to bring about an increase of the October schedule 1933 proved ineffective. 6. While Jewish public opinion protested against the patently inadequate schedule, the Executive had to take steps to prevent an interruption of such immigration as was authorised. The grant of the schedule was preceded and followed, during the month of October, 1933, by stormy Arab demonstrations which were organised to protest against the policy of the Government in allowing the continuance of Jewish immigration and of the sale of land to Jews. The demonstrations were preceded by an intensive campaign of incitement in the Arab press and took place in spite of warnings issued by the Government. They led to serious clashes with the police and resulted in a considerable number of casualties. For some days the country seemed once more on the verge of being plunged into disorders. The question was raised by the Government whether it would be safe to allow immigrants to land while the Arab population was seething with excitement. Heavy transports of immigrants were expected during the closing days of October and at the beginning of November, and the Executive was informed of Government's intention to divert some of the boats to neighbouring ports and keep them waiting for a week until quiet might be restored. At the same time Government stated that the schedule which had just been granted would not be affected and that Jewish immigration in accordance with the country's absorptive capacity as determined by the Government would be allowed to continue. The Executive was strongly opposed to any interruption, however temporary, of the normal entry of immigrants. The Government finally agreed to authorise the landing of immigrants at Haifa immediately after arrival. Only one boat was diverted to Egypt, whence the immigrants proceeded to Palestine by rail without any delay. The Executive expressed its appreciation of the Government's final decision and gratefully acknowledged the special efforts made by the authorities both of Palestine and of Egypt in facilitating these transports, Altogether 2,200 Jews entered the country during the troubled week. It was the first time that disturbances in Palestine had not been followed by a stoppage in the admission of Jewish immigrants. 7. In connection with the disturbances the High Commissioner received on November 14th, 1933, a deputation of Arab mayors which lodged a protest against Jewish immigration and urged the establishment of a Legislative Council. In his reply, 439