PALESTINE SITUATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1936, Page 7

PALESTINE SITUATION

DISCUSSION IN COMMONS

[BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.]

RUGBY. June 19

The Commons discussed the situation in Palestine, and the Colonial Secretary (Mr. Ormsby Gore) made a statement, in which he described the disorders and the measures taken to meet them. By a new regulation, firing at a member of His Majesty’s Forces or Police, anti bomb throwing with intention to cause death or injury. is made punishable by sentence of death or life imprisonment. The Colonial Secretary also stated that the total death roll to date was 7-1 persons. He said that he took the opportunity of expressing the Government’s complete confidence in Sir A. D. Wauchope, and their appreciation of his fine work during his time as High Commissioner. He paid a special tribute to the Palestine police— British. Jew, and Arab —for their devotion to duty and their loyalty in the trying circumstances. He also paid a tribute to the Jews in Palestine, who. despite extreme provocation and attacks, used most commendable self-restraint. He was glad to say that the situation was undisturbed and there had been no crime or outrage whatever. The Government had not been and would not be moved by violence and outrage. As soon as order was restored, but not before, a Royal Commission would visit Palestine to carry out the 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 Britain and the Arab people, which the Government valued, and which it was their earnest desire to see preserved. The Government had also an obligation under the Balfour Declaration, to realise the age-long aspiration of the Jews all over the world, for a centre in Palestine.

“There is at present,” said the Colonial Secretary, “a state of apprehension on both sides. The Arabs are afraid that 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 that the national homo on which they have set their heart will be brought to nought, and that the Arabs will seek to drive them out of Palestine. I confidently believe that both these fears are baseless,* biu they must be shown to be baseless. It is the desire of the Government to find a solution consistent with their fundamental dual obligation. They want the Arabs and Jews to realise that both have an assured future in Palestine, and that the whole object of the British Government in that country is that, both should be able to live in peace and amity, in a land holy to the three great faiths in the civilised world." Mr. Tom Williams, who spoke for the Opposition, and Mr. Lloyd George, both welcomed the Colonial Secretary’s statement, and endorsed his firm declaration that the Government would honour its obligations to the Arabs and Jews equally. Mr. Lloyd George said that the present Arab demands amounted to asking the British Government to tear up its obligations, and to end the Mandate. No British Government could do that.