Questions Asked About Backers Of Jewish Migrants

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 7

Questions Asked About Backers Of Jewish Migrants

(Recd. 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 13. Opening the debate in the House of Lords on Palestine, Lord Long asked that a committee be set up before the House rose so that the United Nations findings on Palestine could be investigated and Parliament called together to act immediately. Lord Long asked whether Britain was informed that a ship carrying 4000 illegal Jewish immigrants was leaving France and why the French authorities let it sail.

Long Long asked whether Communists were behind the moves? He said it was no use issuing vague exhortations to the Jewish community in this country to exercise influence with the Jewish terrorists which they did not possess and which they were not likely to possess. Use Of Funds Lord Long, referring to the fund in Britain to' help Jews in Central Europe, asked whether the money was really getting into the right hands or whether it was going to the Communists, who were helping illegal immigration to stab England in the back. Lord Reading said he and Lord Samuel were associated with the fund and they did not think those responsible for the fund could be accused of neglecting every precaution to prevent the money from reaching undesirable destinations. “The Jewish community in this country views'with increasing disgust detestation and dismay the campaign of vituperation carried on by a section of the Jewish community in the United States, in which the virulence of expression seems equalled only by ignorance and distortion of the facts,” he added. Lord Grenfell said that Palestine should be placed under martial law. Government’s Attitude Lord Hall, replying to the debate, said the anti-Jewish demonstrations in England were a danger signal which could not be ignored. He did not know of a Communist organisation behind illegal immigration, but was convinced that if financial support in the United States was withheld it would not be carried jout to the same extent as in the last 18 months. The French Government did not approve of the departure of the immigrant ship, President Warfield, and it was prepared to receive the Jews if they left the ships voluntarily. but would not remove them forcibly. The United Nations Palestine report would probably be available on September 1, he added.