PALESTINE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18367, 28 April 1925, Page 9

PALESTINE.

ARAB GRIEVANCES.

SHEIKS MEET MR AMERY.

BRITISH POLICY EXPLAINED

(AUSTBALIA.V and x.z. cable associatiox.) (septeb's teleqsavs.) JERUSALEM, April 26. Mr L. S. Amery, Secretary of State for the Colonics, met a representative Arab deputation, which called attention to the serious situation in Palestine, and begged him to consider their case. Sheik Suleiman Faroukhy, president of the National Party, explained the grievances of the Arabs who were loyal to Britain. lie said that the Balfour declaration was oppressive, and the country was dying economically, because wealth was leaving it. The Arabs had no share in legislation, whereas under the Turkish regime they had a large share in the government. He concluded by saying that Palestinians desired to live peacefully in Palestine as natives, and not as foreigners.

Amin Bey Tamimi declared that the Arabs were much better off under the Turkish regime. Britain had not fulfilled her promises to the' Arabs. The Arabs demanded representative government responsible to a Parliament elected by the people, and a constitution' established by the National Council, including legislative and administrative powers. Sacred places, they asked, should be under the protection of the inhabitants, with equality of right to all elements, and the protection of British interests compatible with the nation's interests.

Mr Amery, in reply, said tho British Government was of the opinion that there was no incompatibility between Arab and British co-operation and the Balfour declaration. Britain's object was to ensure that Palestine should be a national home for the Arabs in every sense, equally with the Jews. The expression, "a national homo for the Jews" meant nothing more than the existing Jewish communities should be able to fulfil their desire to live their own cultural life, and have an opportunity of development, and this should be definitely recognised as a right, and not merely as a sufferance. The policy of the British Government looked first to the prosperity of the population, of which the great majority wore Arabs, and was only concerned with the Jewish settlement so far as to see that it received fair conditions. Tho increase in prosperity was proved by the fact that the population in Palestine was' now 806,000, of which 108,000 were Jews, as compared with 673,000, including 55 ; 000 Jews, in 1920. Therefore, thero was' no fear that the local population would be outnumbered by Jewish immigration. Mr Amery emphasised that the Arabs had ill-advisedly refused opportunities of consultation and representation. The Government was anxious to secure the co-operation and advico of all representative Arabs, but was not asking this as a favour. The Arabs now had an opportunity of becoming a great nation again, provided they concentrated on their own development, and not on mistaken-fears regarding the Government's policy.

FUTURE HARMONY.

EARL BALFOUR SANGUINE. (Mam'S TBLEQHAKS.) LONDON, April 26.

A large force of police restrained dense throngs of enthusiastic Jewish admirers from welcoming Earl Balfour home to London.

Earl Balfour, who looked bronzed and cheerful, said: "I am more sanguine than ever about the future of Palestine. I believe that if only the agitators leave tho matter alone everything will be all right. The Jews arc fully conscious of the necessity of working harmoniously with tho Arabs."