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'ORIA,
rroYincial Libraryj Victoria; B. C.
OfflClflL ORGlin BRITISH COLUfflBlfl JCUIRV
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Attlee Accuses Jemh Agency For Outbreaks
LONDON (WNS)—Prime IVIinister Atlee told the Parliament that Britain has a mandatory duty to maintain law and order in Palestine and that the arrests of Jewish Agency members and the mass roimd-ups were in pursuance of duty.
The Prime. Minister made the statment in a reply for an expla-nation. cf the current British operations against the Palestine Jewish oonununity. At. the same time he asserted that Britain intends to seek a settiemen oi the Palestine problem along the recommendations included in the report of the. Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry ion Palestine.
To an interpolation whether the United States Government was consulted tun the British operations in Palestine, Attlee replied: "They were not consulted. We took re sponsibiltiy for oxir own action. It would be quite imfair to try to put the onus on another govern-ment.' It was not clear from At-tiee's remarks whether he meant the U. S. was informed in advance of Saturday's military action.
The Prime Minister said in recent . months it had been made "increasingly clear that the acts cf terrorLsm and sabotage in Palestine formed part of a concerted plan prepared and executed by a highly-developed military organization." He said Britain had showri 'the greatest forbearance."
The Jewish Agency, he said, hau been warned rei)eajtedly of the gravity of the situation. Although some members of • the Jewish Agency have been arrested, Attlee said it was not Britain's intention to close the Agency.
Before AtUee spoke the Foreign OfSoe said President Triunan had been advised on June 19 that "drastic counter - measmres" were contemplated in Palestine. The U. S. Embassy said it had known only that Britain was "deeply con-crned" about terrorism, but that no advance indication of mass arrests had been given.
German Paper Continues With Anti-Semitism
VIENNA (WNS)—Tlie official German organ of the British occupation forces in Austria, the "Weltpresse," an afternoon daily nth an estimoted circulation of ji^w.OOO, in reportuig news developments concerning Jews is strengthening anti-Semitic sentiment in this cquntry, is the complaint made by Austrian government officials. They point out that the selection of news items and the headlines and captions written over them seem aimed to create bad feeling against the Jews.
Recent Berlin reports told of a similar policy being followed by the British licensed Berlin newspaper Telegraf. The Manchester Guardian's Berlin correspondent said that "it seems a sad commentary on the state of the world that such a phrase as 'Jewish terror' should be allowed to reappear in the German press." • The attitude of the American con_ troUed German paper, the Wiener-Kurier, which has a circulation of 250,000 is said to be in marked contrast to that of the British papers. The "Wiener Kiurier" frequently discussed Jewish problenis and publishes statements by Jewish leaders on such l35U£s as ths re-habiliation of the Jews of Austria and reprarations for the damage tliey suffered under the Nazis,
The Senate Banking Coiw^'^^ee Votes For The Pig
Zionist Leaders Denied
Visas to Visit Palestine
At the same time the American Zionist Emergency Council, through it' co-chairmcUi Dr. Wise and Silver issued a statement calling British conduct in Palestine "nothing less than an act of .war, against th( Jewish, people." It read, in part, as follows: "The arrest of members of the Jewish Agency Executive by the.British Army in Palestine is nothing less than an act of war against the Jewish people. It is clear that this treachery is not merely another step in the program of terror and intimidation being pursued by the British Mihtary in Palestine, but was conceived on the highest political level in an attempt to liquidate the Jewish National Home. This at a time when the British Government pretends to be engaged in a joint effort with the American Govem-iXient to bring about a just solution of the Palestine problem. It, is reported that the decision to make these arrests was taken on a Cab-Lnet level," Mr, Attlee and his Government must, therefore, go
Christian Fronters Convicted in N. Y.
NEW YORK (WNS) - The Appelate Division of New York State, in a unanimous decision this week confirmed the conviction of Kurt Mertig and Ernest S. Elnhi\n:st, two Christian Fronters who wery convicted on breadi of peace charges last February,
The two Christian Fronters, who were brought to court before a lower coxurt by members of the-Jewish War Veterans of the United States who attended he meeting where the defendants committed the violation of the law, had been sentenced to six-month jail sentence for distributing anti-Semitic literature at a " jinetilijrig al Queius Village, N, Y. ast October. A third defendant. Homer Maertz, was sentenced to one year.
Polish Terrorists ill 26 Jews
British Troops Claim Arrests To Prevent Further Violence
In NBW OutbrCdk Jerusalem (WNS)—Approximately 3,000 Jews have
been arrested throughout Palestine since last Saturda3r's sudden thrust by British troops against the Jewish resistance movement, and there are signs of diminishing activity by the Palestine Authorities.
NEW YORK (WNS)—A decision to fly to Palestine and face the situation was reached here over the week-end by the American members of the Jewish Agency for Palestine.
In a joint statement disclosing the decision. Dr. Abba Hil-lel Silver, Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Louis Lipsky and Dr. Nahum Goldman, declared: "Convinced that the charges of the Palestine Government that the executive of the Jewish Agency for Palestine has been involved in acts of violence are false and without foundation, the American members of the executive declare equal responsibilities and full solidarity with colleagues in Palestine. American members of the executive have resolved to proceed to Palestine and immediate action is being taken to obtain the nesessary facilities."
down in history as men without honor, as enemies of the Jewish people, who have not hesitated to deceive the U. S. Government."
Declaring that it was evident that the latest British move was designed to liquidate the Jewish National Home, the statement continued: "We have today dispatched an urgent message to the President of the United States and to our Department of State, inquiring as to the aiccuracy of the British Foreign Office statement tliat the United States Government was informed earlier this week of the British decision to arrest various leading members of the Jewish Agency. We cannot believe that our Goverimient, which is fully committed to the program of the Bal-foiu: Declaration and the Palestine Mandfette, ariid to (achieving the immediate transportation of 100,000 displaced. European Jews to Palestine, would be accessory to this vicious and tyrannical act. We a-wait the statement of our Government impatiently, and we tru:^ that the President will not only refute .the assertion of the British Foreign Office as false, but will make clear that the British action is an affront to the Govemmait of tlie United States, and caculated tc aimyl the objectives with regard to Palestine to which it is committed."
Sixty Percent Wish To Go to Palestine From Hungrary
PRAGUE (WNS)—According to the Prague radio, reporting from Budapest, 138,000 Hungarian Jews have registered for emigration. A poll taken among Viennese Jews some months ago indicated that 60 per cent warited to emigrat to Palestine.
Emigration of 400 Czechoslovak-ian Jews to France has also been announced here. Of these, 270 are farmers from Carpatho-Russia, and 170 are Halutzin.
WARSAW (WNS)—One. of the worst anti-Jewish e-ruptions in Poland since its liberation was reported this j week from the City of i Kielee, where 28 persons, in-?: eluding 26 Jews, were killed ] by armed bands of terror-l ist organization;
' Following pffisiai disclosure of the pogrom by the Polish Government a spokesman for the Foreign Office, General Wiktor Groez, said that while he believed the po-, prom to be "a lamentable after-' math", of the recently Concluded Polish referendum the hooliganism al Keilee was "in the long and sad tradition of our country." He said the pogrom was precipitated by a rumor that Jews had killed Polish babies.
Although detailed accbimts of the pogrom are still not available, it is believed that the Jewish casualties alone in Kielee may reach as high as fifty. One Polish officer and a non-Jewish member of the Polish Workers Party were killed by the pogrom perpetrators when they sought to shelter the Jewish victims from the fury of the attackers. Small armed bands invaded homes occupied by Jews, and without warning, proceeded to attack the occupants with gims, . clubs and sticks. Many Jews realizing that the police force was unable to cope with the situation, barricaded themselves in the office of the Kielee Jewish committee headquarters, but they were repulsed with heavy casualties. Dr. Kahane, chairman of the committee was reported killed.
Ask Reparations Be Used To Aid Jewish Resettling
WASHINGTON (WNS)-To transport and resettle in Palestine 100,000 displaced Jews from Europe, between $35,000,000 and $45,000,000 will be needed, according to a memorandum submitted to President Truman by the U.S. members of the Jewish Agency. Between 8 and 10 million dollars wiU be needed for transportation, between 15 and 20 for maintenance, medical care, rehabilitation and training and between 12 and 15 million for immediate clothing and minimum household utensils and furniture. The memorandum asked that German reparations be used to pay
Yiddish Letters Not Allowed Into United States
BERLIN (WNS)—Approximately 50,000 Jewish displaced persons who write only in Yiddish cannot send letters to the United States or anywhere else because Yiddish is not an approved language on the Armys censor's list. They are refugees from Poland and other East Eiu-opean countries who do not write German or Polish, two languages are now on the approval list. This explains why thousands of Jewish families in the Unif)d State and elsewhere do not hea. from their surviving relatives, the question is now being discussed by Jewish representatives with high officers of the Em-opean Theatre of Operations.
The first blow of British might, in what is claimed to be a drive soley directed against the imder-ground n.ovement. was felt by the Jewislx Asency when B!ritish troops raided its offices and conHsticated all documents. Simultaneously British troops arrested Rabbi Ju-dah L. Fishman, acting chairman of the agency. Mosho Shertok. head of the political department. Dr. Bernard Joseph, of the legal department, Itzhak Grexmbaim and David Romez. They were removed to the Latroim detention camp, where persons suspected of terrorism are held.
When troops arrived to arrest Rabbi Fishman, he pled with them that they hold off the arrest until the Sabbath had passed. But the arresting officials were adamant to his plea and arrested him in face of his violent protests that it was criminal to make an orthodox Jew desecrate the Sabbath. It has been reported that a British soldier struck the 71 year-old rabbi on the head.
At Latroim no visitors were allowed to see the arrested Jewish leaders. However, both Dr. Weiz-mann and Chief Rabbi Ben Zion Uziel were granted permission to confer with detained agency leader's. , - -
Following the stunning action of the British Government, Dr. Chaim Weizmajm conferred witli High Commissioner Sir Alan Cunningham. When he told the High Commissioner that he would be compelled to resign as head of the Jewish Agency if the executive members were not free, Sir Cun-
ningham replied: "But you can choose other colleagues and advisers, for instance Mayor Rokach." Weizmann answered that if that was the case he "must decline any responsibility, because this suggestion only aggravates the situation.'*
Immediately following the arrests, the Palestine High Commissioner issued a statement that the operations were "not directed a-gainst the Jewish commimity as a ViThole but soley against those who are seeking an active part in the present campaign of violence and those who are responsible for instigating and directing it." He said the Jewish. Agency was occupied owing "to evidence in our hands as to the part it has played in the organization and direction of and co-operation with, forces which have carried out acts of violence against the Government."
It has been reported that, in his-talks with Dr. Weizmann, the High Commissioner virtually gave the Yishuv an ultimatum and warning that arial attaclts on the Yishuv would be carried out if necessary.
In the meantime there is a move- • ment afoot in the Jewish commxm-ity for passive resistance and civil disobedience as a protest against the brutal conduct of the British troops. There have been no indications as to what steps the Yishuv is contemplating, but it is believed that a general himger strike throughout the country and a hunger strike by the detainees a I Latroun might be one of the weapons.
(.Continued on page two}
Situation Continues Tense
In Palestine Outbreaks
JERUSALEM (WNS)—The situation in Palestine continued tense over the week-end. There has been slight evidence of diminishing intensity of British operations against alleged Jewish terrorist organizations, but it is believed in informed Jewish Circles there that the Palestine Government is preparing additional steps if the Jewish community does not comply with a reported demand by the High Commissioner that a Jewish committee of his choosing be set up to calm
the Yishuv.
It is understood the the High Commissioner wanted a triumvirate consisting of Dr. J. L. Magnes, President of the Hebhew University, who is now in the United States; Moshe Smilansky, leader of Palestine Jewish farmers and author, and I. Rokeach, Mayor of Tel Aviv, to assume the leadership of the Jewish commimity, but that the present leaders of the Rishuv opposed this, threatening instead to proclaim a campaign of civil disobedience to the Government a-mong Palestine Jews, if the Government does not abandon its repressive measures agaist the imder-groimd Jewish military organization, Hagana.
After the meeting with the High Commissioner, Jewish leaders were not optimistic about developments in the near future. It is believed that the interview was in the nat-ture of a warning by the High Commissio-.er that new repressive
measures against the Jewish self-defense groups will soon be undertaken and that an attempt will be made to split the Jewish community into Zionists and other Jews.
In the meantime, British soldiers are being alerted and are standing by in anticipation of Jewish retaliatory measures hi protest a-gainst last week's mass arrest of Jews. Another large supply of munitions was found and confist-icated in the Jewish settlement of Meshek Ragur, in the Haifa Bay area. Only 50 of the 2,718 Jews arrested last week-end have he&i freed from the Rafa prison camp in southern Palestine. An average of about 400 Jews daily are reported being brought to Latnm prison and the Athlit Camp. All Jewish personnel in the three camps have been replaced with Arabs by the military authorities.
Endorsations Granted
Lillian Freiman Chapter Hadassah Annual Store Baffle
Federated Jewish Women Bazaar Nov. 12 and 13
Vancouver Peretz School Raffle September
Vancouver Hadassah Org. Drive Sept. 15 - Oct. 15
Sub-Senior Drive Sept. 1-15