But the committee was astonished a few days later when the President issued a statement that "Full justice will be done to those who seek a Jewish national home. for which the Government and the American people have always had the deepest sympathy." Surely. if the holding of public hearings by a Senate committee would have so stirred up Arabic public opinion as to endanger our armies. the issuance of this statement by the President. with his tremendous prestige. would have had even greater effect. But there is no evidence that the Arabs were in any way excited. or that there was the slightest interference with our armies then fighting in Italy. The matter remained quiet until the Republican National Convention which was held in June 1944. called for the opening of Palestine to unrestricted Jewish immigration and land ownership. so that Palestine might be constituted as a free and democratic commonwealth. The platform stated: We condemn the failure of the President to insist that the mandatory of Palestine carry out the provisions of the Balfour declaration and of the mandate while he pretends to support them. Thereupon the Democratic platform. in July.. endorsed 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 national commonwealth. On October 12 Governor Dewey endorsed the Republican plank. On October 15 President Roosevelt endorsed the Democratic plank. and stated that "efforts will be made to find ways and means of effectuating this policy as soon as practicable." Immediately after the election the Senator from New York and I therefore pressed for immediate consideration of our resolution.
Keywords matched
immigration