PALESTINE POLICY

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 October 1930, Page 7

PALESTINE POLICY

GENERAL SMUTS’ APPEAL "DEBT OF HONOUR" [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] (Recd. October 25, 11 a.m.) CAPE TOWN, October 24. As one of those responsible for the Balfour Declaration, General Smuts cabled Mr MacDonald stating that the declaration was a definite promise to the Jewish world that the policy of a national home would be actively - prosecuted, and it was intended to rally the powerful Jewish influence for the Allied cause at, the darkest hour, and as such, it was approved by the United Stated and other Allies, and accepted by the Jews in good faith. It cannot now be varied unilaterally by Britain. It represents a debt of honour that must be. discharged in full at all costs. “Most strongly, I urge that a Government statement be issued that the Balfour declaration will be carried out, and the Government policy recast accordingly.”

Mr MacDonald replied: I feel sure that your views are based on an incomplete telegraphic summary of the statement of policy. I think you will admit, in the light of the facts recently brought to our notice, that the statement of policy cannot fairly be! described as a retreat from the Declaration, which insured that nothing would be done to prejudice the civil and religious right of'the existing nonJewish communities.” ’ Mr MacDonald added that he was convinced the policy is not only in accordance with the Mandatory obligations, but is designed in the best interests of two sections of Palestine’s population, .whose welfare is the sincere concern of the Government. CONSERVATIVE CRITICISM. '. * RUGBY, October 23. The newspapers anticipate that the Government’s policy in Palestine will be the subject* of an early debate in the House of Commons. In a joint letter to the Press ,Mr Stanley Baldwin, Sir Austen Chamberlain and Mr L. C. Amery express deep concern at the resignation of Dr Weizmann, to whose work they pay high tributes. They regret that the Government rejected Dr Weizmann’s proposal for a, round table conference, and that the Government, -.“without giving either Jewish or Arab opinion an opportunity to express itself or allowing the voice of Parliament to be heard, have laid down a policy of so definitely a negative character.” AMERICAN JEWS’ PROTEST. NEW YORK, October 23. The American Palestine Jewish Legion to-day cabled Lord Allenby “in the name of five’ thousand Jewish soldiers,” recalling their services, and appealing to him to “prevail upon his fellow British citizens to refeist this latest attempt, to impugn British honour.” ' A large Zionist meeting of protest is being planned to be held in the Madison Square Garden on November 2. Doctor Cyrus Adie, who is one of the most distinguished figures in American Jewry, warned his co-relig-ionists to-day against any anti-British feeling. He says: “Politicians come and politicians go, but the spirit of. a nation lives for ever. The British people can be trusted, in the long run, to carry out their obligations.” The “New York Times’s*’ Washington correspondent states that although the State Department has declined to comment on the Palestine situation, the present indications are that it will follow a “hands off” policy.