JEWS & ARABS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XX, Issue 9, 21 December 1929, Page 7

JEWS & ARABS

UNDER PALESTINE MANDATE CONDITIONS CAUSE CRAVE CONCERN. STATEMENT BY BRITISH STATESMEN. IVnitM Pre,, Association— By Cable— Copyright.) ("Times" Cable.) {Received 21, 9.45 a.m.) London, Dec. 20. “As members of the War Cabinet responsible for the Balfour Declaration we view with deep anxiety the present situation in Palestine.” The above is the declaration of Lord Balfour, Lloyd George and General Smuts in a joint letter urging the appointment of an authoritative committee to investigate the whole working of the Palestine mandate. This, they say, is not proceeding satisfactorily owing to causes which at present are obscure The three statesmen declare that the Commission now inquiring into the events of last August must be supplemented by a searching inquiry into major questions of policy and administration, which would be an advertisement to the world that Britain had not weakened in her task to which honour had pledged her At the same time, it would be an assurance to Jew and Arab alike that any proven defects in the present system of government would be made good. Commenting editorially on the situation “The Times” emphasises that political crime in Palestine is still rife and that the relations between Jews and Arabs are nearly as bad as they could bo and are showing no signs of improvement.