LANDLESS ARAB
FACING PROBLEM PALESTINE MANDATE LIMITING TRANSFERS REGULATIONS ISSUED PROTEST IN COMMONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.45 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 28. Steps taken by the Government to prevent the creation of a “landless Arab” problem in Palestine were announced to-clay by the publication of land transfer regulations in the form of a White Paper. The regulations provide lor the delimitation of zones in which land sales by Arabs to Jews should, for the present at least, be restricted, prohibited, or remain free. Lan.d sales are not to be stopped entirely and the High Commissioner has power to modify the boundaries or the proposed areas if such action is considered necessary. In the explanatory memorandum accompanying the regulations sent to the League of Nations for circulation among members, the British Government points out that the mandatory is charged with the duty of facilitating immigration and encouraging close settlement by the Jews on the land. The obligation is qualified by the requirement that the administration should ensure that the rights and position of other sections of the population are not prejudiced. Clear Warnings The memorandum states that it would be dangerous to ignore any longer the clear warnings from the series of important commissions as to the serious growing congestion of Arab population in certain areas and states that, if land sales are restricted there is likely to arise a “landless Arab” problem of such dimensions that it would be extremely difficult to find a solution to it.
In a letter to the League secretariat, the British Government states that the authorisation of the regulations without previous discussion by the League Council would be in no way inconsistent with the provisions of the mandate. Replying in the House of Commons 10-day to criticism of the method adopted,' the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Malcolm Macdonald, said that Javo courses were open to the British Government, the first being to publish draft regulations and suspending them till the League Council had had time to consider them. This the Government would have preferred,, but practical considerations made it undesirable to do so. Alternative Adopted
The alternative adopted he contended in no way ignored the League Council and if any member desired a meeting to discuss the regulations or any view was expressed the Government was bound to give it most serious attention. The Government realised that every party was divided on this matter and any course adopted would be attended by disadvantages. The Government hud decided that the course followed had the least disadvantages and recognised the Government's obligations to the League and other bodies. The Liberal Party leader, Sir Archibald Sinclair, stating that in the opinion of an important authority the Government’s action was contrary to the terms of the mandate, asked whether it would not have been better to postpone the issue even for two more months until the League Council had had the opportunity of considering the regulations Major V. Cazalet (Con., Chipperton) asked whether it was necessary to introduce a measure which would “exasperate Jewish opinion not only throughout Palestine but the whole world,’’ when, for the first time in six years, there was peace in Palestine. Question Considered Mr. MacDonald, Sir Archibald Sinclair, said that the question raised by him had been considered by the Government before deciding on the action taken, and replying to Major Cazalet he said: “I know the whole House will recognise the way in which both communities in Palestine have co-operated__yvith the Government, and the House will pay tribute to the way the communities have worked together in Palestine. "I would say. however, it is because failure to introduce measures to control land transfers in Palestine any longer might prejudice that peace that we decided to follow this procedure. The Leader of the Opposition, Major C. R. Attlee, stated that he proposed to introduce a motion on the subject for debate. Jewish Agency Criticised The regulations were received with bitter opposition, according to a statement by the Jewish Agency executive. Declaring that the regulations, by barring Jews access to the soil of Palestine, make a mockery of the obligation to encourage close Jewish settlement and discriminate against Jews on racial and religious grounds, the statement continues: “Wherever Jews have settled on the land, the neighbouring Arab villages have benefited and prospered, whereas other districts have remained backward in every way.” It stigmatises the regulations as a concession to the Arab political claims and not a measure for the protection of Arab cultivators. Recalling that the Jews ranged themselves unconditionally on the side of Britain and France at the outbreak of the war and offered to throw their whole weight on the Allies’ side, fhe statement continues that the British Government, apparently was advised it would be a better reply to let the Jewish offer lie and through features of a White Paper reproduce for Jews fhe root of the evil of the dispersion—barred doors and discrimination on the grounds of race and religion and a permanent minority status.
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Bibliographic details
Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20184, 29 February 1940, Page 6
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838LANDLESS ARAB Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20184, 29 February 1940, Page 6
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