The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1936. THE DREAM OF AN ARAB EMPIRE!

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12902, 1 July 1936, Page 4

The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1936. THE DREAM OF AN ARAB EMPIRE!

Although the immediate cause, oi tlio unrest in Palestine is the influx of Jews in accordance with the Balfour declaration of 1917, which aimed at giving them a permanent national home, there is in the background, a plan to establish a great Arab Empire. This movement had its origin in what is known as the “Treaty of the Arab Brotherhood’’ and it has been supplemented bv an alliance Between Saudi Arabia on the opposite shore of the lied Sea and Irak, which is intended eventually to embrace Palestine, Syria and Trans-Jordania. At the head of the movement is Ibn Saild. King of Sauda Arabia, who is reputed to be the greatest Arab since Mahomet and ' who has throughout tho world probably 3,000.000 followers chiefly in Western and Southern Asia and in Northern and Eastern Africa. It is significant also that the Arab unrest became accentuated when Italy went to war with Abyssinia. In some quarters, it is supposed that the Arabs have arisen because of fear of a fate similar to that which has overtaken the Abyssinians. On tho other hand, there are more solid grounds for believing that flic Arabs in Palestine have chosen the present juncture to revolt because of a feeling that Britain might prove incapable of curbing them. 'I he fact remains beyond dispute, however that, if tho Arabs were to establish a successful, revolt in Palestine—which i-; not in the slightest degree.probable --that would be the end of the Zionist invasion there. Since the Great War, more than 300,000 Jews Inr'o settled in Palestine and they are 'increasing at tho rate of 00,000 a year. As there are in Palestine only 825,COP Arabs, it is plain that it must be only a. question of time when they will ho outnumbered. . Under the British scheme of development, the Arabs might, of course, benefit very considerably, 'but they aver that the amenities that have been afforded do not interest them. In particular, they have consistently refused to join with tho Jews in legislative matters, even although they have been offered a majority of legislators. It is held by many well-wishers of the Zionist movement that an attempt should be made to separate the Arabs from the Jews in Palestine. However, a plait of that character tried by the French in Syria has not given encouraging results. In an effort to placate the Arabs, the British authorities have offered to appoint a 1 loyal Commission to find i solution of the problem that confronts Palestine. But, ‘wisely, it is being insisted that the- present revolt shall first be ended. It should not ho a very difficult matter for Britain to quell the prevailing unrest among tho Arabs and it may be taken for granted that measures as stern as are needed will be taken with that very desirable end in view.