LAWRENCE'S DREAM

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 13

LAWRENCE'S DREAM

MAY SEE FRUITION.

AN ARAB HEGEMONY.

UNDER BRITISH INFLUENCE,

LONDON, August 22. A new British Empire is to be built up which will bring to fruition all the dreams of Lawrence of Arabia. Negotiations are proceeding in London between tlic Crown Prince of the Hecljas and the British Government for the rectification of existing frontiers and an alteration .in the status of Ibn Saud, who is to become the "emperor" of a new Arabian domain linked by treaty with Great Britain. Briefly, the treaty aims at the establishment of an Arab hegemony, under British influence, stretching from the shadow of the Taurus Mountains to the Indian Ocean. Primarily, the idea is to link up Palestine, Transjorilania and SaoudiArabia into one composite whole, just as they were before the war, when the sultan's flag flew over all of them. The division of the Arab races, which Lawrence deemed unjust, is now deemed impolitic. Extensive prospecting has disclosed that Eastern Arabia is full of oil. It also lies on the direct air route to India and Australia. The appearance of Italy on the other side of the Red Sea is said to be forcing the hand of the strong pro-Islamic party at Whitehall, who desire to make a rich and prosperous Arab kingdom which British brains and British capital can develop. Holy Land Affairs.

The linking up of Transjordania with Palestine will give the Arab population of those parts a greater voice in the affairs of the Holy Land. The linking up of both of these Arabic speaking countries with Saoudi-Arabia will give the Moslems a majority over the Jews, who are pouring in fast. The first step is to make Palestine and Transjordania Crown colonies by sanction of the League of Nations. The Arabs have repeatedly declared to the British Government that they wish that-to be consummated and a few weeks ago a motion to this effect was actually tabled in the House of Commons, but withdrawn as the moment was considered inopportune. The next step is to make the Emir Abdullah of Transjordania titular king of both Palestine and Transjordania. The third stop is federation with Saoudi-Arabia with Ibn Saud, enjoying the style and title of "His Imperial Majesty the Sultan of the Arabs." During the last six weeks a new body has been formed in London called the "Council of Peers and Moslem Leaders." Many prominent British generals antl admirals belong to it, and a very large number of Conservative members of Parliament have subscribed to its funds. | Its avowed object is to "foster a lasting friendship between the British Empire and the Moslem world." Jewish Republicans. This powerful body is among the many influences which are forcing the hand of the Government. It is a question of now or never. According to the latest statistics, during the first four months of this year no fewer than 20,537 Jewish immigrants entered Palesj tine. Of these 1478 brought with them £1000 or more. This is a higher number than in any preceding year despite strict prohibitions. The majority of these immigrants are said to be Republicans, radical in their views and anxious to see Zionism shorn of its British connection as soon as possible. Under British guidance it is claimed that Palestine is now becoming a paying proposition. The revenue rose in the financial year just ended by £1,000,000, despite the fact that the important citrus industry was hard hit by the restrictions imposed in continental markets owing to exchange difficulties.

It is cited as a remarkable fact that Jewish planting of fruit has diminished considerably while the Arabs have been planting heavily. The Jews have been busy in the towns and. according to the Palestine Government's report shortly to be laid before the League of Nations. £0,000,000 was spent by Jews on building townships and villages to meet the demands of immigrants. But few of these immigrants are of any agricultural value. The British mandatory authorities have had to postpone work on water tanks, irrigation channels | and bridges because of the shortage of labour. Crux Of The Labour Problem. M. Viteles, general manager of the Central Bank of Palestine, has just investigated the Jewish citrus industry and reported that some scores of profitable groves are languishing because of a shortage of men. The deposits in the banks amount to £14,000,000 and money is coming in at the rate of at least £50,000 per month, but the development of the country is being hampered by a shortage of labour, which the neighbouring Arab countries could supply. The Arabs, however, arc not willing to enter a country which is being colonised by Jews of Near Eastern Europe, who make no' concealment of their abhorrence of all other religion

This is the crux of the labour problem. It is said at Whitehall that there is no great opposition among the Palestinian Jews to an Arab hegemony, as Jews an still treated decently in Moslem conn tries.

The present moment has been chosen when Jewry is not happy elsewhere, to push forward the Arab empire idea on economic as well as political grounds I>\ restoring some form of hegemony to th Judaic-Arabic lands such as they enjoyet' before the war under the aegis of KinIbn Saud of Mecca, tied to Great Bri tain by a treaty which will take ful cognisance of the Balfour declaratioi and the ideals of Zionism.