AMBITIONS OF ARABS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 April 1925, Page 9

AMBITIONS OF ARABS.

SELF-G OYERNMFNT DESIRED

DEPUTATION TO COLONIAL SECRETARY. BRITAIN’S POLICY EXPLAINED. Received April 27, 11 a.m. by CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT JEItUSAREM, April 26. The Colonial" Secretary, Mr L. S. Ameiy, met a representative Arab deputation. The latter called attention to the serious sit-'uatiofi in Palestine, and begged Air Ame,ry to consider their case. v Sheik Sulieman Faroukliy, president of gte National Party, explained the grievance of tbfe Arabs', who were ,oyal to Britain. He said that the Balfour declaration was oppressive, and the country was dying economically be-' cause of the wealth which was leaving it. " The Arhbs had no share in the legislation, whereas under Turkish regime .they had a large share in the Government. He concluded by saying that Pa'estineians desired to live peacefully 'in Palestine as" natives, not, as foreigners. Following Shiek Faroukliy, Amin Bey Tamimi, declared that the Arabs were much better off under Turkish regime." .Britain had not fulfilled the promises made to the Arabs. The Arabs' demanded representative Government responsible to Parliament, and elected by the people, and a contsituticn 'established by a national council, including legislative administrative powers, sacred places to be under the of the inhabitants, equality of rights of all elements, and the protection of British interests, compatibly with the "nation’s interests. "Mr Ameryv in his reply, said that .the Br itish‘Government was of the opinion that there was no incompatibility between Arab and British co-operation, and the Balfour declaration. The British" object was to ensure that Palestine would be the national home for Arabs, in every sense on an equality with the Jews. The expression “national home for the Jews” meant nothing more than that the existing .Jewish communities should be able to fulfil the desire to live their own cultural life and to have the opportunity or development", and this should be definitely recognised as a right, not-'mere-ly on suffeience. The policy of the British Government looked .firstly to the prosperity' of the population, of which the great majority was Arab, and was only concerned in Jewish settlement, so far as to see that it received .lair conditions. An increase in, the prosperity of trie country was" proved by the fa’ct that the population of Palestine was now 806,(X)0, "including 55,000 Jews. Therefore there was no ‘fear that the local population would be outnuiriber''bj r Jewish immigrants. Mr Amery explained .that ;the Arabs would be ill-advised to refuse the opportunities of consultation and representation. The Government' \vas anxious to secure thb Aco.-operati.cn and advice of all representative Arabs, but if was not asking this as a .favour. The Arabs now had the' opportunity of becoming h great nation again, provided they concentrated oil their own not oil mistakes and fears regarding'"ibe Government's policy.