STRANGE OPENING OF PALESTINE PARLEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 11

STRANGE OPENING OF PALESTINE PARLEY.

TALKS IN LONDON. Arabs Decline To Sit At Table With Jews. MEET IN DIFFERENT BOOMS. T'nltotl Press Association.—Copyright. (Recelvpd 11 a.m.) LONDOX, February 7. One of the strangest conferences ever held opened in the picture palleT-y of St. James' Palace when Mr. Chamberlain received the Moslem delegates to the Palestine Conference, and as the Arabs declined to sit at the same table us the Jews and vice-versa, Mr. Chamberlain later received the Jews iti the banqueting room on the opposite side of the Palace.

Mr. Chamberlain, who was accompanied hy Viscount Hnlifn.\, Foreign Secretary, and Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald, Colon in I Secretary, said there would be freedom in the discussions, and Britain would not offer her views until the Arabs and Jews had an opportunity Hcparntely of putting their cases.

"We are all specially attached to Palestine and fervently hope that peace mid prosperity will soon be restored," lie said.

In contrast to the Arabs, who prespiitcd stately figures in ±he\r silken robes, white head-dresses and ceremonial diijrgers with jewelled hilts, the Jews, lipiirled by Dr. Weizmann, wore morning dress or lounge suits.

Mr. Chamberlain praised the discipline ii iid restraint shown by the Jewish community during a period of extreme difficulty and clanger in Palestine. The presentation of the Arab case lias been postponed owing to the absence of the National Defence party's delegates, who so far are unable to reconcile their differences with the main Palestine Arab delegation. The Government announced that if agreement was impossible separate consultation* would be held with the Defence party.

ARAB DIFFERENCES. OBSTACLES TO SOLUTION. British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 7. The following official statement regarding the composition of the Arab delegations at the Palestine conferences was issued to-day: — "His Majestys' Government has Invited members of all political parties ninonget the Palestine Arabs to come to London to take part in the discussions on the future policy of Palestine. Efforts have been made to arrange that these different parties should all be represented on one delegation. "These efforts have not succeeded «o far, but endeavours to reach agreement are being continued. In the meantime, as a satisfactory settlement has not been reached, representative* of the Defence party have informed the Government that they would not attend the opening meeting of the conference this morning.

"The Government does not seek to take eidee in any difference of opinion which may exist between the parties in Palestine. On the contrary, the Government is anxious that every party should have fair opportunity of expressing its views during the forthcoming discussions. The Government ie glad of the opportunity to enter into free and full consultations with the Palestine Arab leaders selected from parties other than the Defence party.

"In view of its anxiety to exclude no important section of opinion from the diftcuesinnw, the Government will be glad also, if on agreement on the composition of one Palestine delegation proves impossible, to hold separate consultation with a delegation representing the Defence party which has come to London."