JEWISH AGENCY REPLIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24904, 18 June 1946, Page 5

JEWISH AGENCY REPLIES

.VIEWS ON PALESTINE REPORT “ JEWISH STATE ONLY SOLUTION ” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) JERUSALEM. June 16. The Jewish Agency for Palestine, replying to the British and American invitation to submit views on the Palestine Committee’s recommendations, says: “The only just, practicable, and lasting solution, of the twin problems of Palestine and the Jewish people is the establishment of Palestine as a Jewish State. "After the primary recommendation that the first 100,000 Jewish refugees should be enabled to reach Palestine is implemented, the Jewish Agency will be fully prepared to discuss with the British and American Governments various aspects of the Jewish artd Palestine problems. The delay and hesitation in implementing this positive recommendation, and what has happened since the publication of the committee’s report, have caused serious misgivings and perturbation among the Jews in Palestine and throughout the world.”

COST OF JEWISH MIGRATION

“NO CLAIM AGAINST BRITISH TAXPAYER” (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 16. “There is no claim whatever against the British taxpayer in connexion with the cost of transferring Jews to Palestine, although the international funds established for the rescue of the Nazis’ victims would of course be required to contribute,” says Mr D. Bengurion, chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency, in a letter to "The Times.” He said he Wished to correct a wrong impression arising from Mr Bevin’s speech at Bournemouth on June 12. He added that the idea that the admission to 'Palestine of 100,000 Jews involved an expenditure of £200,000,000 sterling was fantastic. The Agency had already brought over about 400,000 Jews and the entire cost of immigration and settlement did not amount to half that amount —and the British taxpayer did not contribute a penny, nor was he now asked to do so.

[ln. his speech at the Labour Party Conference at Bournemouth on June 12, Mr Bevin referred to the proposed admission of 100,000 Jews to Palestine. He said that if this were done Britain would have to station another division of troops in Palestine, and he was not prepared to do it. He added that the financial issues involved were tremendous. The British Exchequer could not carry the burden. Britain could not take on another £200,000,000 expenditure in Palestine, “and that is wnat is really involved.”] •