DISORDERS IN PALESTINE.

Evening Star, Issue 20365, 23 December 1929, Page 8

DISORDERS IN PALESTINE.

The request that has been made by Lord Balfour, Mr Lloyd George, and General Smuts for the appointment of an authoritative committee to investigate the whole working of the Palestine mandate is ono that can hardly be refused. It would bo impossible to imagine three names that could be more impressive attached to such a petition to the Government than those by which the request is signed. Lord Balfour was the author of the Balfour Declaration, which, by its promise of a “ national homo ” in Palestine to the Jews when most of the inhabitants of that country were already Arabs, has been the cause of all the troubles there up to the present time. Ho is also one of the most revered leaders of tho Conservative Party. Mr Lloyd George is the leader of the Liberal Party, and General Smuts is the most outstanding! of tho oversea statesmen of tho Empire, beyond the suspicion of having, in this matter, any party axe to grind, and noted for his strong faith in tho mandate system. Successive British Governments and British administrators in Palestine have done their best to reconcile the promise made to Jews with what is due to Arabs, but they have not succeeded in calming Arab fears. The working of this mandate, it is stated by the three petitioners who have certainly no desire to bo alarmists, is not proceeding satisfactorily owing to causes which are at present obscure, and they ask for a complete investigation in order that the whole position may he straightened out. Thero has been ample evidence of unsatisfactory working since tho disorders of August last. Punishments indicted by tho courts on tho perpetrators of those outrages have assisted to keep racial ill-feelings alive. It was impossible that any decisions which were reached should satisfy both Jews and Arabs. "When Arabs were at fault the Jews have been incensed by the lightness of their punishment, while Moslems have complained that it was too heavy in view of Jewish provocations. In order to prevent a renewal of disturbances in connection with the Wailing Wall at the time of the Jewish New Year and Day of Atonement, new temporary regulations were issued. These provided that the ceremonial objects which the Jews might bring for certain services must be portable, within specified measurements, and approved after inspection. Such a screen as was put up on tho Day of Atonement last year to separate tho men from the women must not again be used. On the other hand, Mohammedans were forbidden to pass by the wall through the new gate at tho southern end on Saturdays and days of special religious importance to the Jews. The regulations have proved effective, though both Jews and Arabs protested strongly against them. Raids and sniping.? have, however, continued, in various parts of tho country, and it is mpt long since tho Attorney-General and an Arab Customs officer were shot at on tho same day, the first being seriously and tho other more lightly wounded. An official statement was then made that “tho British Government was satisfied that the Palestine Government was capable of maintaining order in that country, but it was, of course, impossible to guarantee in Palestine or elsewhere that isolated cases might not occur of offences against life or property.” It is a question whether that did not set quite too good a face both on the outrages and on the authorities’ power to deal with them if they should increase. Ono o£ tho most disturbing statements made in tho course of tho proceedings of the commission which has been investigating the August troubles was that of the police commandant, Major Saunders, who expressed tho opinion that in the event of a massacre tho Palestinian police could not be depended upon, because they were mostly Arabs. Arab mootings have declared lack of confidence in the High Commissioner, advised tho people to refuse to pay taxes until a representative Government should bo set up, pledged their members to boycott all Jewish merchandise, and demanded tho dismissal of tho At-torney-General, who has since been shot at. Relations between the Jews and Arabs; ‘The Times’ has said, remain nearly as bad as they could be, and show no signs of improvement. It is stated that each side has been encouraged in its attitude by co-religionists beyond the country’s borders. The analysis of the whole trouble and suggestions for lutnrq government which .might bo made by an authoritative committee could do no harm, in those circumstances, and they might do a great deal of good.