The Jewish Agency for Palestine has placed “Jewish manpower, technical ability and resources” at the disposal of the British Government and has received a reply from Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain stating that the “public-spirited assurances are welcome and will be kept in mind.”
A letter from Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the Agency, dated Aug. 29, and the Prime Minister’s reply, dated Sept. 2, were made public today. Dr. Weizmann’s letter follows:
“In this hour of supreme crisis the consciousness that Jews have a contribution to make to the defence of sacred values impels me to write this letter. I wish to confirm in the most explicit manner the declarations which I and my colleagues have made during the last month and especially in the last week: that the Jews stand by Great Britain and will fight on the side of the democracies.
“Our urgent desire is to give effect to these declarations. We wish to do so in a way entirely consonant with the general scheme of British action and, therefore, would place ourselves, in matters big and small, under the coordinating direction of His Majesty’s Government. The Jewish Agency is ready to enter into immediate arrangements for utilizing Jewish manpower, technical ability and resources, etc.
“The Jewish Agency recently had differences in the political field with the Mandatory Power. We would like these differences to give way before the greater and more pressing necessities of the time. We ask you to accept this declaration in the spirit in which it is made.”
Chamberlain’s reply follows:
“I should like to express my warm appreciation of the contents of your letter of Aug. 29 and the spirit which prompted it. It is true that differences of opinion exist between the Mandatory and the Jewish Agency as regards the policy in Palestine but I gladly accept the assurances contained in your letter.
“I note with pleasure that in this time of supreme emergency, when those things which we hold dear are at stake, Britain can rely upon the wholehearted cooperation of the Jewish Agency. You will not expect me to say more at this stage than that your public-spirited assurances are welcome and will be kept in mind.”
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
