Evening star., 1946-08-13
BY the Associoied Press
LONDON, Aug. 13.-Tert OF the

LONDON, Aug I3-Tert OF the
British statement on Palestine:
No country in the world has beer
a better or more consistent friene
of the Jewish people than Britain
Wherever the Jews were perse.
cuted the voice of Britain was lifteo
in protest, and, wherever possible
action was taken to mitigate theil
lot.
When they were prosecuted BY
Hitler, the British people not only
protested most vigorously, but q
large body of refugees from Nazi
barbarism were received in ou1
country. Even during the war, when
our people were hard pressed fol
shelter and supplies. more were al
lowed in Altogether 100000 refugees
"a large proportion of them Jews
landed in Britain.
It was under the British mandate
that nearly 100000 Jews settled
legally in Palestine, where a grea1
Jewish community now exists.
When it was threatened with Nazi
invasion-a terrible threat to the
Palestinian Jews-British arms pre-
vented that dread possibility.
The Jews in Palestine were given
arms so that they might be equipped
for their own defense against their
would-be liquidators from Nazi Ger
many and to enable them to take
a part in the common struggle. In
Britain there are no pogroms: Jews
enjoy all the rights Of civil liberty.
Such is the record of this island
now the subject of bitter and un-
fair attack by many-though by
no means all-Jews on account OF
the unhappy events in Palestine
in the course Of which British
soldiers, doing their duty, have
been killed. wounded and kidnapped
not in open and straightforward
battle, but from ambush and even
in the course Of hospitality More
over, civil servants serving Pales-
tine no less than Britain, and ordi-
nary quiet citizens going about their
peaceful business have been the
victims of outrage more worthy
of Nazis than of the Jewish VIC
tins of Nazis
Quota Exhausted Last December.
against this background his
majesty's government give the facts
and their decision about the illega
immigration to Palestine which
threatens both civil war and q
breakdown OF government in the
historic land
In December, 1945. the quota oil
$4,000 Jewish immigrants permitted
to enter Palestine under the pro-
visions OF the white paper was ex-
hausted.
Nevertheless, pending a final de-
clsion on future policy for Palestine
mis- majesty's government authorized
the continuance OF Jewish immigra-
ton at the rate of 1.500 a month
Instead of this provision being ac-
cepted pending decisions on long
term policy, there has been an in
creasing flow of illegal immigrants
into Palestine. The numbers OF
these illegal immigrants have had
TO be set off against the monthly
quotas, and those already held in
camps in Palestine, or on ships In
Haifa Harbor, are more than sufi
cient to absorb the whole quota for
many months ahead. However
illegal immigrants in considerable
numbers are known to be on their
way to Palestine.
Moved by sympathy for the suffer.
ing of the Jewish people in Europe
his majestys government have
hitherto allowed illegal immigrants
to land in spite of the grave embar-
rassment caused to the Palestine
authorities both in the administra
tlon of the quota and by the neces
sity for OBTAINING in camps those
whose entry was not Immediately
possible under the quota.
The patience, forbearance and hu.
manity thus shown by his ma jesty'.
government has. however, been in.
terpreted by those responsible for the
traffic as sign of weakness and al
an encouragement to redouble theil
efforts to increase the flow of illega
immigrants still further.
The point has now been reached
when 1t Is clear that the present IL.
legal traffic Is not, as has been main.
tanned, movement arising spontan
eously among the European Jew.
who see in Palestine their only hopt
Tor the future. Nor are those whit
encourage and direct it inspired
solely by the sympathy which is *
widely felt for suffering.
Network Of Agents Maintained.
Recent developments have re.
yealed the illegal immigrant traffi.
as a widely ramified and highl,
organized movement supported b,
very large financial contribution.
from Zionist sources, which has beer
pullt up and put into operation b,
unscrupulous persons in an attemp
TO force the hand of his majesty
government and anticipate their de
cislon on future policy In Palestine
Ihe organizers maintain closel,
Knit network of agents in the coun
tries OF Eastern and Southern Eu
rope. by whom considerable number
Iof displaced Jews are moved from
points OF departure as far distant a.
Poland down to the Mediterranean
seaboard.
Thence, herded into overcroWdef
and unseaworthy ships with insnf.
ficient food, and in conditions of thu
utmost privation and squalor. the,
are brought across the Mediter