The Jewish National Home in Palestine

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.

STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR THOMAS E. DEWEY

On October 12, 1944, Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New York, the Republican candidate for President, issued the following statement:

I heartily indorse the Palestine plank in the Republican Party platform. Again I repeat what I previously stated to the great leader of the American Zionist movement and distinguished American Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, that I am for the reconstitution of Palestine as a free and democratic Jewish commonwealth in accordance with the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the resolution of the Republican Congress in 1922. I have also stated to Dr. Silver that in order to give refuge to millions of distressed Jews driven from their homes by tyranny I favor the opening of Palestine to their unlimited immigration and land ownership.

The American people have time and again declared themselves in favor of these principles. The Republican Party has at all times been the traditional friend of the movement.

As President I would use my best offices to have our government working together with Great Britain to achieve this great objective for a people that have suffered so much and deserve so much at the hands of mankind.

THE WAR DEPARTMENT

On March 17, 1944, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, Seventy-eighth Congress, second session, issued the following statement concerning House Resolutions 418 and 419 relative to the Jewish National Home in Palestine.

At an executive meeting held on March 17, 1944, by the Committee on Foreign Affairs on House Resolution 418 and House Resolution 419, relative to the Jewish National Home in Palestine, and following the receipt of a letter from the Secretary of War, the committee approved the issuance of the following statement:

Advice and information given to us by those responsible for the conduct of the war have convinced the committee that action upon the resolutions at this time would be unwise.

(Letter from the Secretary of War:)

Hon. SOL BLOOM,

Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee,

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C. March 17, 1944.

House of Representatives, Washington, D. C.

DEAR MR. BLOOM: Concerning our converstation with respect to House Resolutions 418 and 419, it is the considered judgment of the War Department that without reference to the merits of these resolutions, further action on them at this time would be prejudicial to the successful prosecution of the war.

Faithfully yours,

HENRY L. STIMSON,
Secreary of War.

The military reasons which prompted Secretary Stimson's opposition to passage of the resolution last March no longer prevail as indicated by the following letter from Mr. Stimson to the Hon. Robert A. Taft, senior Senator from Ohio, the author of a similar resolution now pending in the Senate.

Hon. ROBERT A. TAFT,

United States Senate, Washington, D. C.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, October 10, 1944.

MY DEAR SENATOR: I refer to your letter of September 12, 1944, regarding Senate Resolution 247, introduced by Senator Wagner and yourself, on the subject of opening the doors of Palestine to the free entry of Jews into that country.