Jews Refuse Co-operation

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 February 1947, Page 5

Jews Refuse Co-operation

Palestine is unable to accept the Palestine Government’s ultimatum to co-operate in the fight against terrorism on the lines proposed in the letter to the Jewish Agency from the Chief Secretary of the Palestine Government, Sir Henry Gurney, on February 3. This was announced last night by Mr. David Remez, chairman of the Jewish National Council at a plenary session of the council, attended by 70 delegates from all parts, of Palestine. Mr. Remez declared that the Jewish community would never accept a demand to hand over terrorists to the authorities. They would not turn “informer.” Reprieve Demanded for Gruner. Mr. Remez also denounced the implied threat of pressure contained in the ultimatum. “We have seen terror in many countries,” he said, “but never has such an ultimatum been presented to any people.” He declared that the whole Jewish community demanded a reprieve for Dov Gruner, the Jewish terrorist now under sentence of death. Mr. Remez said the council was fully aware of the grave consequences of its refusal. The Haganah last night plastered Tel Aviv with leaflets saying: “The Jewish authorities will fight terrorism but they cannot make hundreds of thousands of Jews into police informers.” The Chief Rabbi, Dr. Isaac Herzog, addressing the Jewish National Council, disclosed that in a recent conversation with a “high British personality” who demanded the Jewish community’s co-operation in suppressing terrorism he (Dr. Herzog) had explained that this could be done only by the Jewish people having their own government and police and army.. He reminded the “personality” of Ireland’s history and said that the Irish people in the early twenties refused to become informers when asked to do so by the British Government. Britain and Ireland. “Britain did not enlist Ireland’s co-operation in the campaign against terrorism until an agreement had been reached with the Irish nation, after’ which the Irish people liquidated the terrorists.” » Mrs. Golda Myerson, head of the Jewish Agency’s political department, urged the Jewish community to be steadfast and not to be intimidated. It was later reported that a deputation including Mr. Remez, Dr. Herzog and Mr. Rokach, the Mayor, of Tel Aviv, were going to London for an emergency conference..

Irgun Zvai Leumi’s radio last night broadcast in English, French, Italian and Russian calling for help against the pending martial law. “Our answer to that threat,” the radio said, “is that we do not capitulate or become Quislings and Darlans.” Irgun Zvai Leumi's emergency committee has called on Jews to maintain national discipline, reports the British correspondent of the United Press in Jerusalem. The committee said: “United we will meet all trials. Do not panic and do not profiteer.” The statement followed panic buying of food as a result of the fear of an imminent curfew as a prelude to martial law. American Aid for Jews. With a budget of £30,500,000, the directors of the United States Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, meeting in Paris, approved plans for an enlarged world-wide service to assist Jewish emigration in 1947, says Reuter’s correspondent in Paris. Mr. Irwin Rosen, reporting, on the work of the organisation’s emigration service in 1946, said 25,000 Jews were moved from Europe to other 1 cl IT d s Of 15,000 already settled aboard 4000 had received certificates for Palestine, 3500 went to the United States, 2500 to South America, and 1500 to the United Kingdom. Mr. Rosen added that 10,000 European Jews had been aided in leaving for “waiting areas” in France, Sweden and Norway. “We have established a complete network in virtually every country in Europe and 50 countries outside Europe, so that European Jews can go to any place in the world if we can. get the necessary visa.”