IN PALESTINE SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENTS TO HEARINGS SUBMITTED TO THE U.S. Congress, House, COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SEVENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON H. Res. 418 and H. Res. 419 RESOLUTIONS RELATIVE TO THE JEWISH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DEC 1 1944 65282 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs UNITED STATES WASHINGTON: 1944 19440 145 FOREWORD Since completion of the hearings before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs February 16, 1944, on House Resolution 418, introduced by Mr. Wright of Pennsylvania and House Resolution 419, introduced by Mr. Compton of Connecticut, 77 Senators from 48 States and 318 Representatives from 48 States, a total of 395 Congressmen from the 48 States have expressed themselves on the Jewish National Homeland in Palestine. Their views were assembled by the American Zionist Emergency Council which has given this committee permission to publish the individual expressions of Senators and Representatives for the information of their colleagues in the Congress. In addition there is herewith submitted for the convenient reference of the committee the platform declarations of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions and the statements of President Roosevelt and Governor Dewey made during the recent Presidential campaign. There is also included the letter from Secretary of War Stimson to the Honorable Robert A. Taft, of Ohio, expressing the current views of the War Department on this proposed legislation. SOL BLOOM, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs. III THE JEWISH NATIONAL HOME IN PALESTINE THE CONVENTIONS AND THE CANDIDATES The Jewish National Homeland in Palestine was strongly endorsed by the Republican and Democratic National Conventions held in the city of Chicago, Ill., during the months of June and July 1944. The plank of the Republican platform relative to Palestine follows: In order to give refuge to millions of distressed Jewish men, women, and children driven from their homes by tyranny, we call for the opening of Palestine to their unrestricted immigration and land ownership, so that in accordance with the full intent and purpose of the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the resolution of a Republican Congress in 1922, Palestine may be constituted as a free and democratic Commonwealth. We condemn the failure of the President to insist that the mandatory of Palestine carry out the provision of the Balfour Declaration and of the mandate while he pretends to support them. The declaration of the Democratic platform relative to Palestine follows: We favor the opening of Palestine to unrestricted Jewish immigration and colonization, and such a policy as to result in the establishment there of a free and democratic Jewish commonwealth. STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT At the annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America, at Atlantic City, October 15, Senator Robert F. Wagner, of New York, read the following letter from President Roosevelt : Knowing that you are to attend the forty-seventh annual Convention of the Zionist Organization of America, I ask you to convey to the Delegates assembled my cordial greetings. Please express my satisfaction that, in accord with the traditional American policy and in keeping with the spirit of the Four Freedoms, the Democratic Party at its July Convention this year included the following plank in its platform: "We favor the opening of Palestine to unrestricted Jewish immigration and colonization, and such a policy as to result in the establishment there of a free and demoncratic Jewish commonwealth." Efforts will be made to find appropriate ways and means of effectuating this policy as soon as practicable. I know how long and ardently the Jewish people have worked and prayed for the establishment of Palestine as a free and democratic Jewish commonwealth. I am convinced that the American people give their support to this aim and if reelected I shall help to bring about its realization. 1 |