Twenty-First Congress - Geneva, 1939

Congress met only days before the outbreak of the Second World War. Since the last Congress, Britain had staged a withdrawal from the Partition plan that had been initially proposed by the Peel Commission: the Woodhead Commission had called the scheme impractical: the St.James conference in London did not bridge the gulf between the parties; and Britain's war interests led the Prime Minister to the conclusion that

"if we must offend one side, let us offend the Jews rather than the Arabs."

In May 1939, the White Paper had been published severely curtailing immigration and giving a pledge to create an independent Palestine state.

Congress condemned British policy in the strongest possible terms and a number of delegates praised the activities of organizations involved in illegal immigration. Given the climate of impending war, the outgoing executive was requested to remain in office. Weizmann concluded Congress proceedings with the statement,

"I have no prayer but this: that we will all meet again alive."

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