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  4. Document 778

867N.55/213: Telegram

The Consul General at Jerusalem (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State

Jerusalem, November 20, 1940—noon.
[Received 7 p.m.]

165. Referring to my telegram No. 140 of October 17, 2 p.m.

1.
On November 1 and 3, two small steamships flying the Panamanian flag, the Pacific and the Mylos with respectively Greek and mixed Turkish-Bulgarian crews, brought total of almost 1800 intending Jewish illegal immigrants to Haifa, where they are being held and well cared for aboard the detained French passenger liner Patria. Embarked last month at Rumanian Danubian ports and largely of Central European origin, many of them are known to have relatives or friends in this country, an advertisement carrying some 1100 of their names having been published in the three leading Hebrew afternoon papers of November 12 with the result that the papers have since been suspended.
2.
While the British censorship authorities have prohibited any reference to the matter in the local press or in outgoing news agency cables it has become generally known, as have the facts that the High Commissioner has urged the British Government to authorize deportation aboard the Patria to Mauritius and that the Jewish Agency has lodged strong protest here and in London. This has resulted in growing bitterness in local Jewish circles where threats are current of widespread demonstrations similar to those of last March following publication of the land transfer regulations. A general strike has been called from noon to midnight today.
3.
Yesterday I learned from reliable official sources that, while the British Colonial Secretary is expected to announce in Parliament this afternoon that the proposed deportation has been decided upon, no serious local disturbances are expected for the reason that the question has been fully thrashed out in London with competent Jewish leaders, in this latter connection I was told in strictest confidence that Dr. Weizmann had “played up very well”.
4.
Two other similar refugee steamers are known to be approaching Palestine waters, the Panamanian Atlantic and the Bulgarian Pentcho, carrying a total of almost 2400 persons.
Wadsworth