Friday, June 20, 1945
Page Three
THE JEWISH NEWS
British Commission of Five
Chosen to Rule Jerusalem
Municipal Council Is Dissolved; Jewish Councillors Refute
District Commissioner's Charge That They Did Not
Accept His Proposals
JERUSALEM, (JPS-Palcor)—The Jerusalem Municipal Coun-
cil has been dissolved on the order of the Government and super-
seded by a commission of five •British officers. Chief Justice Sir
William Fitzgerald has been appointed a committee of one "to in-
quire into, and report on, the local administration of Jerusalem
and make recommendations in relation thereto." The Jerusalem
District Commissioner states that this was brought about by the
failure of the Council to accept the proposals of the High Com-
missioner that the mayoralty post be held in rotation by a Jew,
Christian and Moslem, and by the fact that the Council meetings
ric: longer have a quorum due to resignations and failures to at-
tend its- meetings.
The Jewish community accepted in principle the High Commis-
sioner's plan that the mayoralty be held, in rotation, by Arabs,
Jews and Christians, Jerusalem District Commissioner Pollock ad-
mitted at the opening here of the inquiry into the city's administra-
tion.
The Arabs rejected the plan, he testified, because of their un-
willingness to share the mayoralty with the Jews. The Arab
Councillors, he said, "acted under the pressure of outside influ-
ences." Another witness at the hearings, conduCted by Chief Justice
Fitzgerald, constituting a one-man commission, was Aziz Chikhani,
an Armenian. Treasurer of the' Municipality, who stated in reply
to questions that the Jews comprised about 65 percent of the city's
population.
The Chief Justice asked: "If the Jews are the majority, why
are the Arabs given equal representation?" The witness replied
that this was the result of legislation which divided the city into
polling - zones in such a way as to "ensure equal representation for
both communities." Jerusalem, he said has a population of 152,031.
(The Arab Councillors have been boycotting the sessions ever
since the High Commissioner's plan was announced.)
The Commission in charge of the city's affairs consists of
George Webster, recently retired Postmaster, Chairman; Dr. J.
MacQueen, Director of Medical Services; R. F. B. Crook, Assistant
Director of Public Works; Jan }Tilton, Deputy District Commis-
sioner of Jerusalem, and H. F. H. Davies, Assistant Secretary of
the Government Secretariat.
. In announcing the dissolution of the Council and the appoint-
ment of the commission, at a meeting of the Councillors at his of-
fice July 11, in the morning, the District Commissioner said that
the High Commissioner's proposals were "not accepted by any
party" in the form in which they were made.
The Jewish Councillors of Jerusalem, and representatives
of Jewish institutions addressed a letter to the District Com-
missioner in which they refute the official statement that the
system of triple rotation "was not accepted by any party in the
form in which it was made." The letter refers to a communica-
tion addressed to the District Commissioner by the Jewish
Councillors on March 23, 1945, in which they did not reject
the High Commissioner's proposals, but suggested certain
amendments. The letter denies the District Commissioner's
assertion that all efforts to solve the problem have been futile.
Weekly Review of the News of the World
(Compiled From Cables of Independent Jewish Press Service)
AMERICA
A biography of Baron Edmund de Roths-
child, titled "Edmund de Rothschild-Palestine
Pioneer," by Isaac Naiditch, has been pub-
lished by the Zionist Organization of Amer-
ica. It is the second in a series of ZOA
books on Zionism and Palestine.
"It is inevitable that the disposition of the
homeless millions in Europe,—the armies of
`displaced persons'—will .come before the Ber-
lin conference" of President Truman, Prime
Minister Churchill and Marshal Stalin, The
Nation, liberal weekly, observes in an editor-
ial. Related to this problem, and also "relat-
ed to the unstable situation in the Middle
East, is the issue of Palestine," the editorial
says.. "No longer can military necessity be
dragged out as an excuse for the inexcusable.
Winston Churchill himself has used as strong
language as any Zionist in denouncing the be-
trayal perpetrated by the White Paper, and
it is certain that the Jewish people of Pal-
estine will no longer tolerate the restrictions.
Palestine is an international question and it
should be dealt with as such; Britain itself
should be the first to welcome a joint move
for its solution. Such a movement should
certainly be initiated by the United States."
Eleven complaints charging individual
firms with discrimination in employment,
have already been filed at the New York City
office of the newly set up State Commission
Against Discrimination, Henry C. Turner,
chairman of the commission, reported.
PALESTINE
The name of "Rehov Kedoshei Jassy,"
Street of the Jassy Martyrs, has been given
to a thoroughfare in Givat Shaul, new su-
burb near Tel-Aviv, on the second anniver-
sary of the massacre of nearly 12,000 Jews in
Jassy, Romania.
One of the favorable aspects of the Pales-
tine economic situation is the fact that al-
though employment on military projects has
decreased 50% since 1942, displacing tens of
thousands of persons, this has not brought
about any considerable unemployment, Robert
Scott, acting Chief Secretary of the Palestine
Government, pointed out in an address to the
Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce July 10.
Following the decision of the Vaad Leumi,
Jewish Palestine's National Council, introduc-
ing more rigorous regulations regarding pub-
lic Sabbath observance, Z. Shragay, Hapoel
Harnizrachi representative, resumed his post
as a member of the Vaad Leumi Executive
Committee. Rabbi Ostrovsky, representative
of the Mizrachi Organization, remained a
member throughout the crisis over the Sab-
bath issue.
(See Also Page 14)
Sweden to Take Orphans,
Sick Children at Belsen
Relief Teams Already Operating in Concentration Camps;
14,000 Jews, 800 of them Children, Still Living at
Bergen-Belsen; Condition Desperate
NEW YORK—The Swedish Government has agreed to accept
all orphans and sick children in the Belsen concentration camp, it
was announced by Dr. Joselph C. Hyman, executive vice-chairman
of the Joint Distribution Committee. Children whose parents are
ill will also be accepted; the announcement read.
Relief teams comprising a physician, nurse and specially train-
ed workers have been granted permission to enter the liberated
concentration camps and extend service and aid to the former
Jewish • internees. One team is already operating in Buchenwald.
According to the latest information available, there are 14,000
Jews still in Belsen, of whom 800 are children. • Their condition is
known to be desperate.
"Throughout the period of German cruelty, the Swedish Gov-
ernment has displayed, in the finest humanitarian spirit, its inter-
est' in helping to relieve the suffering of Jews fleeing a ruthless
oppressor," Dr. Hyman stated.
"Jews who fled from Denmark across the North Sea were
welcomed by the Swedes as were others who found haven in
Swedish territory. This latest action serves only to strengthen
the reputation of charity and justice which are characteristic
of Sweden."
Jewish Children Returned
To Their Families in Italy
All Who Hid in Convents, Monasteries and Private Non-
Jewish Homes Placed Under Jewish Supervision,
Dr. Schwartz, JDC Official, Reports
NEW YORK—All Jewish children who were' hidden during
the occupation of Southern Italy in monasteries and convents are
now under Jewish supervision, it was announced by Dr. Joseph C.
Hyman, executive vice-Chairman of the Joint Distribution Com-
mittee. .
Basing his announcement on a cable received from the JDC's
Rome representative, Reuben Resnik, Dr. Hyman revealed that
many of these children are now being cared for in a Jewish or-
phanage in Rome, while others are staying in Ostia. A summer
camp and school has been opened at Monte Mario, while in North-
ern. Italy Jewish orphanages are functioning in Milan and Turin.
Thirty-one children were transferred from convents in Turin
and Milan to JDC-Supported institutions.
In other areas many children who were cared for throughout
the period of German occupation have been returned to their own
families by Christian institutions and families.
The institutions in Rome, Florence, Milan and Turin have been
adequately equipped by the JDC to provide food, clothing, proper
schooling and medical care fOr all these children, Dr. Hyman stated.
The JDC receives its funds from the campaign collections of the
United Jewish Appeal for Refugees, Overseas Needs and Palestine.
In Detroit the UJA is assisted by the Allied Jewish Campaign
through the War Chest.
"The electric life is
the only life!"
"I've been a dealer in electric appliances for fifteen years, with a close view of the
amazing progress made toward providing the'electric life.' I don't believe many people
fully realize yet that the 'electric life' is practical right now! They aren't familiar with the
variety of labor-saving devices that appliance manufacturers have developed . . . have
proved in use . . . and will again make available at reasonable prices. Quite a while ago
only those with better incomes could afford to use electric appliances. Today there are few
people who can afford not to use electric appliances, because of the savings in time, labor
and drudgery that they provide. I'm now telling my customers
about all the modern appliances for modern living—automatic
washers, ironers, garbage disposal units, ranges, dishwashers,
water heaters, television, home freezers, automatic blankets, air
conditioners and so on. I'm asking my customers to review
their ways of doing things . . . to recognize the old-fashioned
ways they cling to . . . to find out the cost of doing things the
modern way. I believe that in almost every case they'll decide
that the old-fashioned way is the wasteful way. They'll all be
turning on the electric life when appliances are again available.',
The DETROIT EDISON Co.
information. He will be glad to
$ee rota e adez# for help helpful
you select models that will fit your needs.