PALESTINE POLICY

Hawera Star, Volume L, 28 October 1930, Page 5

PALESTINE POLICY

MR MacDONALD’S DEFENCE

INTERESTS OF BOTH PARTIES. EXCESS OF IMMIGRATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 25. The Prime Minister, in reply to General Smuts, who criticised the British Government’s report on Palestine, says the Government has affirmed the viewendorsed by the Permanent Mandates Commission and Council of the League that the obligations laid down by the mandate in regard to the two sections of population are of equal weight. “You will also recall,” he says, ‘ ‘ that the commission expressed the view that had the mandatory Government concerned itself more closely with the social and economic adaptation of the Arab population to the new conditions due to Jewish immigration it w-ould have been served the interests of both sections of the population. Our present policy is in conformity W'ith that suggestion, and a scheme of more methodical agricultural development which is, as shown in Sir Hope ■ Simpson’s report, the only method whereby additional Jewish agricultural settlement will be possible, consistently with the conditions laid down in Article 6 of the mandate, which enjoins that the rights and position of the other sections of the population are not to be prejudiced. “The Government has made it clear in its statement of policy that measures for development are envisaged, tlie benefits of whien tlie Jews and Arabs c.an both share. Neither as regards land policy nor as regards immigration does the Government aim at crystallising the Jewish national home at its present stage of devclojnnent. Tne statement, of policy contains neither stoppage nor even suspension of colonisation on tne large amount of land yet. undeveloped already in Jewish ownership. “As regards non-rural immigration it has Dee'u the consistent policy of succeeding Governments that Jewish immigration should not exceed the economic capacity Oj. the country to absorb netv entrants. The new statement reaffirms this principle in language which recognises that, owing to various causes, it has boon imperfectly applied in the past. “The Government recognises that thpolicy outlined is bound to be a disappointment 10 the hopes of the more zealous elements of both communities, but it, is confident that on a fuller appreciation of the facts and a consideration of tlie policy based upon tnem an increasing body of unbiased opin' will be convinced that, in its main lines, this policy is not only in accordance with tlie mandatory obligations, but designed, in the best interests of the two sections of the Palestine population, whose welfare is a matter of sincere concern to his Majesty’s Government.”