JEWISH ARMY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23880, 3 February 1941, Page 6

JEWISH ARMY

RACE'S GEEAT DESIKE NEGOTIATIONS IN BRITAIN LEADER'S VISIT TO AUCKLAND The great desire of Jews throughout the world to form their own army and fight in the Allied cause was amphasised yesterday by a prominent member of the race, Mr. David Ben-Gurion, who arrived from the United States by the California Clipper. Mr. Ben-Gurion is chairman of the Palestine executive of the Jewish Agency and is now returning to Palestine after extended visits to Britain and the United States.

When he left London toward the j end of hist year the British Government had agreed in principle to the establishment of a Jewish Army, Mr. Ben-Gurion said. Only details remained to lie completed and he hoped to hear any day that the scheme was to he put into effect. However, if further difficulties were met with, the Jewish Agency and others who advocated the army would continue to press for its formation. Reasons lor Fighting What was proposed was an army composed of Jews from Palestine and from neutral countries throughout the world, ho added. There were thousands of the race in many countries who wished to fight for two important reasons, firstly, to help Britain, and, secondly, to defeat Hitler. They would have additional encouragement if they knew they were also fighting for Palestine. His visit to America had been made to forward the Jewish Army proposal. Mr- Ben-Gurion said the Jews could play an important part in the Allied effort in the Near East. In Palestine they had the only modern community in the whole region. Palestine possessed important industries, clever scientists and a considerable man-power, all of which could be used much more extensively than they were toward helping the Allies. Heroism ol British People During his period in Britain, Mr. Ben-Gurion experienced many German air raids and he said yesterday that lie had been amazed at the heroism and bravery of the people generally. He also noted with interest the popularity and confidence Mr. Churchill enjoyed among all classes. "In the United States there is a growing feeling that sooner or later they will be in the war," he said, in referring to his American visit. Three mouths ago such a suggestion would not have been considered, but feeling had undergone a great change. Mr. Ben-Gurion was welcomed at a reception held by the Jewish community in Auckland last night. He will leave for Sydney by the Awarua this morning. VICTORY ASSURED MR. BEN-G URI ON'S VIEWS RECEPTION IN THE CITY The British Navy, the resources of the Empire, the leadership of Mr. Churchill, the character of the British people, and the fact that the Battle of Britain was the battle of humanity would assure ultimate victory, said Mr. David Ben-Gurion, chairman of the Palestine executive of the Jewish Agency, when speaking at a reception in his honour given by the Jewish community in Auckland last, night. Mr. David L. Nathan presided, and those present included the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser, and the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis. Speaking of Palestine, Mr. BenGurion said that in the last 20 years a total of 450,000 Jews from Europe had been absorbed. Of these, 120,000 were working on th© soil. The Jews had built up by their own efforts a complete economy. When Hitlerism was defeated and Europe regained its freedom, there would still be the problem of 5.000.000 uprooted Jews on the Continent. Their only salvation could come from the establishment of Palestine as a Jewish commonwealth. That would make the Jewish people masters of their own destiny and enable them to settle the ruined masses from Europe as a productive, free people. So would bo undone tho age-long wrong dono by the world to the oppressed Jewish people. Mr. Eraser expressed sympathy with the Zionist cause and said he hoped that, with the rehabilitation of the other suffering democracies, the wrongs of the Jewish people would bo redressed.