TO JOIN EMPIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 3, 5 January 1938, Page 7

TO JOIN EMPIRE.

Wish of Zionist Federation of

Britain.

JEWISH PALESTINE.

LONDON, January 4.

In a hall crowded to suffocation the Zionist Federation of Britain announced its desire for a Jewish Palestine bound in the framework of the British Commonwealth.

The secretary emphasised that there was no Government inspiration behind the announcement which had not previously been made lest it should embarrass Britain in dealing with certain other Governments.

The Zionists, however, for long years had felt the conviction that the British and Jewish peoples should be allied in a visible form. The secretary added that although he was only entitled to speak for British Zionists he could state authoritatively that the Jews in Palestine wished to become members of the British Empire and to share its burden of defence.

GOVERNMENT DILEMMA.

WEAKENING ON PARTITION?

LONDON, December 31,

The Government is now in two minds over the proposal to partition Palestine between Jews and Arabs, says the diplomatic correspondent of the "Evening Standard." In recent months a strong, section of Foreign Office opinion ■ has become increasingly alarmed over Mohammedan reactions to the proposal.

The Foreign Minister, Mr. Kden, however, is still prepared to back the Colonial Office, which wishes to stand by the partition plan. It is possible that the Government will finally decide to continue the mandate on its present basis and to postpone any question of partition for at least 10 years'.