[political, economic and social conditions in Palestine within the boundaries of the British Mandate]

The files contain reports submitted to the 'Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry'. This committee was a joint British and American assembled in Washington on 4 January 1946. The committee was tasked to examine political, economic and social conditions in Mandatory Palestine as they bear upon the problem of Jewish immigration and settlement therein and the well-being of the peoples now living therein; to consult representatives of Arabs and Jews, and to make other recommendations 'as may be necessary' to for ad interim handling of these problems as well as for their permanent solution. The reports were presented by the 'Jewish Agency for Palestine'. From 1929 to 1948, the 'Jewish Agency for Palestine' was organized into four departments: the Government Department (performing foreign relations on behalf of the Jewish community of Palestine); the Security Department; the Aliyah Department, and the Education Department. The reports cover a lot of topics, most of them concerning the conditions and potentialities in the Middle East. Especially the economic and political scene, the country and the people, the population increase, natural resources and their exploration in Palestine. Furthermore the problems of immigration and housing have been reported to the 'Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry'. Also predictions regarding different subjects have been made. Besides a memorandum on possibilities of agricultural settlements have been presented by the 'Jewish Agency for Palestine'.