BRITAIN’S PALESTINE POLICY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 227, 22 June 1936, Page 9

BRITAIN’S PALESTINE POLICY

Colonial Secretary’s Review

ASSURED FUTURE FOR BOTH ARAB AND JEW

(British Official Wireless.)

Rugby, June 19. The House of Commons to-day discussed the situation in Palestine, and the Colonial Secretary made a statement in which he described the disorders and the measures taken to meet them and reiterated the Government's determination to await restoration of civil peace before embarking on a new examination of the problems of the mandate. The Minister, Mr. W. Ormsby-Gore, gave details of the reinforcements of the military garrison in the last f ew weeks and of additions to the normal powers of the Government which have been made. By a new regulation, firing at a member of his Majesty’s forces or at the police and bomb-throwing with intention to cause death or injury were made punishable by sentence of death or life imprisonment. The Colonial Secretary also gave the House classified figures of the casualties which showed a total death roll to date of 74 persons.

Confidence in Commissioner.

He took the opportunity to express the Government’s complete confidence in Sir Arthur Wauchope and its appreciation of his fine work during hts time as High Commissioner. He paid a special tribute to the Palestine police. British, Jew and Arab, for their devo-tlon-tio duty and their loyalty In trying circumstances. He also paid a tribute to Jews in Palestine who, despite extreme provocation and attacks, had. used most commendable self-restraint. He was glad to say that the situation in the immediate neighbouring mandated territory was almost entirely undisturbed, and there had been no crime or outrage whatever. The Government had not been and would not he moved by violence and outrage. As soon as order was restored, but not before, a Royal Commission would visit Palestine to carry out a- most full and searching investigation into the causes of unrest and grievances alleged by either Arab or Jew. The Arab people were rightly proud of their historical achievements and their contributions to civilisation, and there had been traditional friendship between Great Britain and the Arab people which the Government valued and which it was ite earnest desire to see preserved. The Government had aiso an obligation under the Balfour Declaration to realise the age-long aspiration of Jews all over the world for a centre in Palestine. State of Apprehension. “There is at present,” said the Colonial Secretary, “a state of apprehension on both sides. The Arabs are afraid the Jews will completely dominate the country, and they fear for the future of their own race and the homes of their fathers. The Jews are equally afraid that the great and really remarkable constructive work they have already done in Palestine will be cut short and the national home on which they have set their heart will be brought to naught, and that the Arabs seek to drive them out of Palestine. I confidently believe that both these fears are baseless, but they must be shown to be baseless. It Is the desire of the Government to find a solution consistent with their fundamental dual obligation." The Government wanted the Araos and the Jews to realise that both had an assured future in Palestine and that the whole object of the British Government in that country was that both should be able to live in peace and amity in a land holy to the three great faiths of the civilised world.

Mr. Tom Williams (Labour), who spoke for the Opposition, and Mr. David Lloyd George (Independent, Liberal) both welcomed the Colonial Secretary’s statement and endorsed his firm declaration that the Government would honour its obligations to the Arabs and the Jews equally. Mr. Lloyd George said that the present Arab demands amounted to asking the British Government to tear up its obligations and end the mandate. No British Government could do that, he said.

WATER SUPPLY CUT Culprits Traced and Compelled to Make Good Damage (Received June 21, 7.45 p.m.) Jerusalem, June 21. The city’s water supply was cut off when a pipe was blown up in the Judaean hills. Police dogs followed the trail of the culprits to a house in a neighbouring village, and 20 villagers were compelled to make good the destruction.