THE BRITISH SOLDIER ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 104, 27 January 1930, Page 6

THE BRITISH SOLDIER ABROAD

performing his duty WITH TACT DIFFICULTIES WITH JEWS AND ARABS Dominion Special Service. Nelson, January 25. The work of the British Army of Occupation on the Rhine, in Egypt, and in Palestine very much impressed -Mr. If. Milner, rector of XVaitaki Boys’ High School, who has just returned from a trip abroad. Speaking to a "Dominion”' representative here Mr. Milner said he was greatly impressed with what might be called the self-effacement of this army of occupation and the modest, tactful, and thoroughly efficient way in which they carried out their jobs. The Army of Occupation along the Rhine compelled admiration from people who were naturally reluctant to give it, but if one realised the difficulties of their task, he was filled with admiration at their attitude, the regimental pride, Qieir splendid appearance, and, as he said before, the tact with which they did their duty. The different attitude of the Germans to-, wards the French was most marked, and the British were prime favourites. At Alexandria and at Cairo, and up the Nile one felt how necessary was the potentiality of a military force to keep the atmosphere clear from the penetration of bolshevism and from externally inspired intrigues. Mr. Milner said he hiul every sympathy for the aspirations of Egyptian nationalism, and his experience of travel in Egypt was that military control of the Canal and British supervision of Egyptian administration was .absolutely necessary. A French merchant told him the British control was absolutely necessary, not only for the safety of foreign capital, but also for foreign lives, the administration of justice and the preservation ot the arterial highway to the British possessions in the East. “I came away from Egypt,” added Mr. Milner, “with more respect for Lord -Lloyd's opinion than I previously had.” ■ . "Grave Tension.”

In Palestine, Where he went to study the political question as well as Biblical history, he found grave tension existing between Arab and Jew, and the considered belief among Europeans was that the removal of. the Northamptonshire Regiment would precipitate a terrible butchery. For instance, at the Availing AX’all, of which so much had been heard of late, he saw pitiable instances of extreme bigotry between the rival parties which would have led to clashes had it not been for the restraining influences of the British ’Tommy. He found the British sentries fully cognisant, of their resiioßsibilitics, nnd they exercised their duties of supervision and control at all the critical points in such a tactful way as to make one feel that the British had the position well in hand. The Palestine Commission was sitting at the | lmc > and the rival newspapers were .lull of inflammatory appeals, and one realised the tremendous responsibilities vested in the Commission to find a solution of this vexed question. Jews and Arabs. He was immediately impressed with the orange orchard movement that had been promoted by the Jews. For many miles around Jaffa orange orchards extended north and south, and showed bow seientificallv cultivation was supervised. This’edrintry had exported u million cases a year, and the agricultural movement hail veritably made the erstwhile desert into a golden orchard, due to the enterprise and science of the Jews. There wus no'uloubt that the Jews had contributed to Palestine money, business acumen, enterprise and scientific methods, and he thought they were entitled .to cultural and intellectual dominance: but in view of their numerical insignificance compared with the Arabs, and in view of the fact that the Arabs have been in possession by conquest for the last 1800 years, any'attempt to give Jews political control also would quite naturally precipitate a frightful holocaust of life in Palestine, would fan the whole Moslem world into a blaze, and endanger all British possessions in the East. ' In order to get their viewpoint, Mr. Milner visited a number of Bedouin chiefs. All were eagerly watching what the Commission's pronouncement was to be, and if the report was against them it would be the signal for a general flare-up. Alter meeting a number of Arabs Mr. Milner could not see how we can get past their viewpoint. If the Arabs were not safeguarded in the report of the Commission ft would be a terrible thing.