Report to the ... Zionist Congress and to the Council of the Jewish Agency in ... · 1935-08-01 · 8.1935 · p. Seite 465

could be expected in a Legislative Council as contemplated by the Government. 2. No practical steps in the matter were taken by the Government of Palestine at that time. In the autumn of 1934 further representations on the subject were submitted to the Government in London, both in writing and in oral discussions, as a result of which it became clear that it was not intended to take action in the immediate future. Further delay ensued as a result of complications which arose in connection with the setting up of the new municipalities elected under the Ordinance of 1934. It had throughout been the declared intention of the Government to await the establishment of the new municipal councils before proceeding with the Legislative Council. The new Municipal Council of Jerusalem, however, though elected in September, 1934, was not definitely constituted until April, 1935. Recently, the question of the Legislative Council has been re-opened afresh by the Government of Palestine with a view to early action, and the representatives of the Jewish Agency have reiterated the objections previously submitted and expressed the fundamental and categorical opposition of the Jewish Agency to the proposed constitutional reform. VI,—Grants to Jewish Services. 1. The Jewish Agency was not consulted by the Government on the allocation of the second Palestine Loan of 1934. The Executive expressed its regret that such an important measure affecting the development of Palestine should have been decided upon without the Jewish Agency having been given an opportunity of offering advice.. The representative of the Jewish Agency commented in particular on the allocation of £130,000 to school buildings which was to be devoted entirely to Arab schools, without the Jewish school system benefiting thereby. The Executive made it clear that it regarded this item in the distribution of the loan funds as an unjustified discrimination against the Jewish community. The reply of the Government was that the purposes for which the loan had been raised had not been considered from the point of view of separate Jewish and Arab interests, but that in deciding upon the distribution of the amount note had been taken of what appeared to be the most urgent needs of the country regardless of whether the expenditure benefited Jews or Arabs. The view had thus been adopted that the need for Arab school buildings was far more urgent than that for Jewish schools. The Executive had to remind the Government that some of the buildings which were being used as accommodation for Jewish schools were so inadequate and unsuitable that the Government Health authorities threatened to close the schools down unless they were removed to better buildings. Subsequently, in reply to a question asked in the House of Commons, the Colonial Secretary explained that the Government could not see its way to authorising capital expenditure from the 465 3°