PALESTINE PROPOSALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 February 1939, Page 7

PALESTINE PROPOSALS

BRITAIN TO END MANDATE? INDEPENDENT ARAB STATE [independent carle service.] (Received February 27, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, February 26. “Reynold’s News” says that Cabinet has accepted, in principle, sensational proposals to end the Palestine mandate, and to institute an independent State, linked to' Britain by treaty. The broad outlines of the plan have been communicated to the Jewish and Arab delegates to the Palestine Conference.

The plan envisages, firstly, the declaration of an interim period in Palestine, which will begin in a few months, when a Legislative Assembly will be established, with representatives for Jews and Arabs. Secondly, the creation of an independent Arab State, at the end of the interim period. Thirdly, a treaty with Britain by the new State, on the lines of those with Egypt and Iraq. The newspaper adds that the keynote of the situation is fear of war in the Near East, with Fascist penetration endangering Arab loyalty. REJECTED BY JEWS. (Recd. February 27, 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, February 26. The executive of the Jewish Agency has rejected the Government’s proposals for Palestine. It will report to a full conference to-morrow, through Dr. Weizmann. A cablegram from Jerusalem stated that the Jewish Council has issued a statement, declaring that the reported proposal to replace the Palestine mandate by an independent Arab State, would undermine the Jewish national home.

The statement added that the Jews will oppose any attempt to impose a minority status upon them.

ARAB REJOICINGS

JERUSALEM, February 26. Arabs held demonstrations of rejoicings, at the imminence of an independent Arab State, in the streets of Haifa, Jaffa, Nazareth, and Tulkaram.

Troops arrested 41 Arabs, and seized a. quantity of firearms.

BOMB OUTRAGE.

(Recd. February 27, 1 p.m.) HAIFT, February 26.

A bomb, thrown at a lorry in the centre of the town, killed the Jewish driver and his assistant.'