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There is a desperate urgency about this tragic human problem, my friends, which brooks no delay. An immediate relaxation of the restrictive measures on immigration into Palestine and a return to the status which prevailed before the white-paper policy of 1939 was imposed will not only be a boon to these suffering humans,' but will greatly relieve the present menacing tensions in Palestine, will wash out much of the bitterness, and will enable the deliberations of your Committee of Inquiry and of the next Assembly* to be carried on in a calmer spirit, in an atmosphere of moderation and good will. We are all eager for peace. We must all make a contribution to achieve it. But the decisive contribution can only be made by the mandatory Government. I hope that I have not abused your patience, Mr Chairman, and the patience of the representatives of the United Nations here assembled. Permit me to conclude with this observation : The Jewish people places great hope upon the outcome of the deliberations of this great body. It has faith in its collective sense of justice and fairness and in the high ideals which inspire it. We are an ancient people, and though we have often, on the long hard road which we have travelled, been disillusioned, we have never been disheartened. W T e have never lost faith in the sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of great moral principles. In these last tragic years, when the whole household of Israel become one great hostelry of pain, we could not have built what we did build had we not preserved our unshakeable trust in the victory of truth. It is in that strong faith and hope that we wish to co-operate with you in this task which you have undertaken. The Jewish people belong in this society of nations. Surely the Jewish people is no less deserving than other peoples whose national freedom and independence have been established and whose representatives are now seated here. The Jewish people were your allies in the war and joined their sacrifices to yours to achieve a common victory. The representatives of the Jewish people of Palestine should sit in your midst. The representatives of the people and of the land which gave to mankind spiritual and ethical values inspiring human personalities and sacred texts which are your treasured possessions—we hope that, people, now rebuilding again its national life in its ancient homeland, will be welcomed before long by you to this noble fellowship of the United Nations. 2. QUESTIONS ASKED OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR PALESTINE BY VARIOUS DELEGATES Mr Asaf Ali (India) : I shall confine myself very strictly indeed to the statement made by Dr Silver. I must first of all congratulate him on the eloquence of facts and the moderation born of long centuries of suffering. I assure him that truth shall win in the last resort and human conscience will not abandon its function. He will permit me, therefore, to put to him just a few questions which arise out of his statement. The very first question which I should like to ask him is this : What was the number of Jews from outside in Palestine in 1900, again in 1930, and finally in 1939 when the white-paper of 1939 was issued by the British Government ? My next question would be whether Dr Silver recognizes the fact that there is a very clear distinction between a Jewish State and a Jewish national home, which is mentioned in the mandate. Does he also recognize the fact that even the statement, to which he made a reference,