PALESTINE MANDATE.

Evening Star, Issue 23349, 19 August 1939, Page 14

PALESTINE MANDATE.

In its position as guardian and trustee of the mandated territories the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations has issued a statement on the British Government’s proposals relating to future policy in Palestine. This document will come before the League Council next month. Four members of the commission of seven which considered the matter expressed the view that on the questions of immigration, land, and future Constitution the British plan conflicts with the mandate. In an interesting article in the ‘ Contemporary Review ’ Lord Samuel discusses the present position in the country and the prospects of arriving at a settlement that will bring order among the people. Lord Samuel was formerly High Commissioner for Palestine, and for that reason as well as for others, he is able 10 speak with authority on the conditions now prevailing. There are certain claims and proposals, prominently advanced, he says, that are ill-founded, and must bo rejected before a solution can bo reached. One of them is the assertion that the British Government during tho war, as an inducement to the Arabs to rise against Turkey, promised that Palestine west of the Jordan should be part of the future Arab domains. The writer also contradicts the assertions that the British Government ever promised Palestine to the Jews as a Jewish State and that tho Arabs have suffered economically through the creation of the Jewish national home. Statements that the Arabs were “ let down ” are often attributed to T. E. Lawrence. There is no doubt that he felt bitter at first, but after the original arrangements had been revised he expressed himself as being satisfied with the position, stating that Britain’s promises to the Arabs had been kept in letter and spirit. Lord Samuel gives reasons why no solution can be hoped for by a geographical division of the country, and thinks that it is not possible at the present time to devise any final solution. Tho arguments and conclusions advanced arc presented in a clear and logical way and they are an important contribution to a vexed problem. ,

One particularly interesting suggestion is made. It is that some confederation of tho Arab States might be brought about, including tho federation of Syria, tho Lebanon, Palestine, and Trans-Jordan, and possibly later on Iraq and tho Hedjaz. If such a thing were accomplished it would bo the fulfilment of a long-cherished Arab dream. Lord Samuel considers that if the coming years did bring a movement in that direction it might have a profound effect upon the problem of Palestine. A group of closely-allied States, with the Arabs in a majority of millions, miglvE look with a less jealous oyo upon the growth of a largo Jewish population in one part of the combined areas. Tho Arab leaders, once the position of their people was fully assured, might be willing then to make friends. They might be glad to reap the advantage in production, in trade, in revenue,, and in cultural development which the Arab confederation could undoubtedly derive from the enterprise and activity of a strong Jewish element in their midst. The Moslem world is well aware that the glory of the Caliphate in bygone centuries was largely due to the participation. of Jewish statesmen and thinkers, scientists, and merchants. As we have seen, the whole problem of settlement in Palestine is beset with difficulties. Two principles are generally accepted. First it is essential that the legitimate interests of the Arab population shall be safeguarded. When that is accomplished it is a reasonable demand that the Jewish work in Palestine should bo encouraged, not hampered.

The ‘ Sports Special,’ with the sporting news of the day—including the Otago Rugby team’s match against Wellington—and large magazine section, will be sold, on the streets tonight from 7 o’clock.

Tho mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) acknowledges with thanks receipt of the following donations to the appeal on behalf of the New Zealand Council for the Adoption of Chinese Refugee Children: —Previously acknowledged, £733 Os 8d; “A Friend,” £lj Otago University Students’ Association, £5 16s; “C.H.5.,” £1 10s; total, £741 6s Bd.

Timber experts ar© losing patience with bushmen who give their own plain and fancy names to the almost innumerable types of trees seen in Australian forests (says the Melbourne ‘Age’). The publication by the Standards Association of Australia of a book entitled ‘ Nomenclature of Australian Timbers’ has been hailed with delight by the division of forests products of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. In support of the publication it has been stated that “ to become familiar with the number of timbers available in Australia is difficult enough without the confusion added when one individual timber is named differently by different sections of the timber industry. The bushmen’s habit of calling a tree ‘ blue gum ’ when his method _of recognising it is by the bluish tints on its bark or its leaves can _be tolerated, even though we, familiar with the red colour of the timber, called it ‘red gum.’ But when another timber is called ‘ scented satinwood.’ ‘ coachwood,’ and ‘ rose mahogany ’ by different timber men, we begin to doubt whether there is any reasoned connection between the names.”-

In the Police Court this morning William Henry Houghton was fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness. A first offender who had spent the night in the cells was convicted and discharged. When she arrived at Wellington from Sydney on Thursday morning, the Union express liner Awatea completed her 224th crossing of the Tasman Sea since she was first commissioned for service in September, 1936. Probably no ship of her size in the world has a better steaming performance than the Awatea. During the last three years she has steamed a total of 302,234 sea miles, of which 100,518 miles have been covered since September 30 of last year at an average speed of about 20 knots. During the last 10J months the Awatea has crossed the Tasman Sea 79 times and made three coastal passages from Wellington to Auckland. For several weeks during the height of the the vessel did not spend one night in port. Mr P. Ncilson, M.P., has received advice from the Minister of Education that he has approved a grant to cover the cost of additional ground improvement work at the Musselburgh Public School.

A party of Territorial officers and n.c.o.s boarded the express train this morning. They are proceeding to the District Military School, Burnham, where they will attend a course of instruction prior to undergoing examination for promotion and first appointment to commission.

Tho first of the double-deck buses to operate on the Bourke Street-Northcote route, Melbourne, in' place of cable trams, which are being scrapped, is expected to be in operation in October, and the complete change-over should be completed by February, 1940. The cost of the installation of the bus fleet will be £58,245. All-metal bodies for 44 buses will be constructed in Australia.

“ Strangely enough, although this Act has been in force for seven years, this is the first time this point has been brought up,” remarked Mr C. L. Calvert, when he was introducing an originating summons for the interpretation of a lease in the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Smith yesterday afternoon. The lease under consideration was between the Daniel Haynes Trust Ltd., and the D.1.C., and was in respect to tho latter company’s premises in the Octagon. Mr Calvert appeared for the landlord and Mr J. C. Mowat for the defendant tenant, and the former said that the action was a joint one and that there would be no claim for costs. It was explained that the lease was for 30 years from September 18, 1939, and that the rent for the first period of 10 years was £I.OOO a year. The rental for the second and third terms was to be fixed by arbitrators at the beginning of each period, and the lease was now about to enter the second period. It was subject to the National Expenditure Act, 1932, in pursuance of which the rental for the first term was reduced from £I,OOO to £BOO. The action had been brought to determine whether the rental for the second term of 10 years, when it was fixed by the arbitrators, was to be subject to a similar adjustment. After hearing legal_ argument, His Honour reserved his decision.

The postal authorities advise that the Monterey, due in Auckland on Monday, lias 31 bags of Australian mails and 17 parcel receptacles for Dunedin. The mail includes Empire air mails, and should reach the local office on Wednesday next.

“ That the attention of the Government be drawn to the anomalies in the Social Security Act, under which South African veterans’ payment allowed is only 5s a week for each dependent under the age of 16, whereas the veterans of the Great War drawing disability and Great War pensions receive 10s a dependent, and civilians drawing invalidity pensions, should they have dependents under the age of 16, receive 10s a dependent weekly.” The above remit will be discussed at a conference of the South African War Veterans’ Association in Christchurch next Thursday. Several other remits will be considered dealing with war pensions, one asking for its doubling from £l3 to £26 a year. Another remit asks ,the Government to increase its grant from art union funds by another £SOO a year to relieve distress among veterans.

A reminder that the first weeping willow trees to be introduced into New Zealand were planted at Akaroa came before the Akaroa Centenial Committee at its last meeting (says the Christchurch ‘Press’). These slips of willows were brought to Akaroa in 1840 by Francois le Lievre, one of the original French settlers, when the emigrant ship called at St. Helena, and slips were taken from the trees on Napoleon’s grave. Mr W. Bruce, of Wanganui, wrote that he was sending a cutting of one of these original willows which had been planted at the Maori settlement known as Jerusalem, on the Wanganui River. This was taken many years ago from the Akaroa willows, as were those along the river Avon in Christchurch and elsewhere in Canterbury. The chairman of the committee (Mr F. Davis) suggested that Mr E. X. le Lievre, son of the original Frenchman who had introduced willow trees into New Zealand, should plant the Wartganui willow in the old French cemetery grounds at Akaroa, and this w-3 approved by the committee. That the Christchurch Botanic Gardens were being made “ a bit too civilised ” was an opinion expressed by the chairman (Mr C. Flavell) at a meeting of the Heathcote County Council last evening (says tho ‘Press’). “I am rather afraid that our gardens wilt soon be like England, with notices all over tho place warning people to keep off the grass,” he said. “ I think they are going a bit too-far and are growing too many flowers. We don’t want it°all down in gardens. I think there is a distinct danger of taking away a lot of the beauty of the place.”

Notifications of Sunday services as enumerated below appear in our Sunday services advertising columns; —Anglican: St. Paul’s Cathedral, All Saints’. Presbyterian: First Church, Knox Church, St. Andrew’s, Musselburgh, St. Stephen’s, Roslyn, Kaikorai, Maori Hill. Wakari. Methodist: Trinity, Central Mission, Mornington, St. Kilda, Cavershara, Dundas Street, Abbotsford, Cargill Road, Maori Hill. Baptist: Hanover Street, Caversham, Mornington, South Dunedin, Roslyn, Sunshine, North-east Valley, Green Island. Congregational: Moray Place Church, United. Church of Christ: St. Andrew Street, North-east Valley, South Dunedin. York Place Hall, Salvation Army, Playfair Street Hall, Christian Science, Theosophical Society, Spiritualists, Salvation Army (North Dunedin). The Otago Licensed Victuallers’ Association will hold its annual ball in the Early Settlers’ and Pioneer Halls next Thursday, at 8.30 p.m. As onlv a limited number of tickets are available, early application is advised.

The Railway Department is running a popular day excursion from Dunedin to Timaru on Sunday, August 27. Particulars of the trains and the special cheap fares are advertised.

The United Starr-Bowkett Building Society will dispose of £2,000 by sate in groups Nos. 8 and 9 on August 24. The Railway Department advertises in this issue particulars of the running of relief express train from Christchurch to Dunedin and Dunedin to Invercargill on August 22. Also extra express train from Invercargill to Christchurch on August 28.