IN PALESTINE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1937, Page 5

IN PALESTINE

MIXED RECEPTION GIVEN TO THE REPORT. (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). •LONDON, July 8. The Palestine report is generally well received, although a section of the House of Commons opposes the idea of the corridor from Jerusalem to Jaffa. The non-success' of the Polish Corridor is recalled. The Labour Party is forming a committee to study the report and consider the attitude to he adopted. In the meantime Mr: J. C. Wedgwood (Labour, Newcastle) declares that the report could not be worse. He contends that all the unoccupied area .to the south, which provides a living for ’IOO,OOO Jews, lias been handed over to the Arabs. A message from ' Jerusalem says neither Arabs nor Jews appear willing at present to accept the report The Arabs complain that they will have no harbours, and the Jews declare they cannot accept Zionism without Zion nor a Jewish state without Jerusalem. «, The first. Jewish reaction was an assemblage by Jews at the Wailing Wall to pray against partition. Jewish opinion is strongly against further diminution in Jewish territory. Faiul Saba, secretary of the Arab Higher Committee, declared: “It is too had. There will he considerable disappointment ” The Moslem leader, Nnhas Hibi, declined to comment for two days. A Jew was stoned and seriously injured near Herod’s Gate in Jerusalem. The Arab Higher Commission has issued ,a manifesto complaining that the Jewish state is being created in the most fertile part of the country. The committee is consulting the Arab kings and princes and the leaders of Palestine institutions in reference to their future policy. It appeals to the Arab ' people to pay no .attention to empty promises, to adhere to the Nationalist , programme, and to maintain self-iv-straint. The possibility of a parliamentary debate on the report is discussed bv “The Times,” which states that members have been much impressed by the fact that the Ro> s al Commission lias been able to produce a unanimous report. •Referring to future procedure, “The Times” assumed that it will be the duty of the /Mandates Commission to inform the League as to whether a case has been made out for the revision of the mandate. 'lf the' Mandates Commission and the League Council are favourable, • the British Government than, it is expected, will be asked to prepare h revised mandate, the existing one continuing in operation in the meantime.

Criticism by’both Arabs and Jews is anticipated by the newspapers, which, however, view the partition proposals with general favour. “The Times” says: “Whatever criticisms may be levelled against partition, it does offer the greatest possible common .measure of justice to the two nations, Palestine, and the Britisn taxpayer.” “Partition is impossible unless Britain uses force,” declared Abdul Hindi, 'one of the Arab Higher Committee. “The Arabs will not yield Haifa or Tiberias for any money. It is not a matter of economics but of honour. Would Britain sell Portsmouth to Germany? We are weak, we have no guns and no poison gas, but we have the same hearts as the British.” REQUEST TO ITALY . LONDON, July 8. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden), in view of the impending issue of the Palestine report, a few days ago interviewed the Italian Ambassador (Count Grandi) and expressed the hope .that the Italian Government would avoid the issue, from its Bari wireless station, of any unfriendly broadcast comments. Count Grandi called at the Foreign Office with a personal message from Signor Mussolini to the effect, that 71 Dnee desired in the friendliest spirit to do all he could to ease the situation. The Italian Government had taken all necessary steps to meet Mr Eden’s wish. | ARABS PROTEST. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) JERUSALEM. July 9. The Arab committee requested Ibn Saud, Inan Yemen, the Emir of the trans-Jordania, and King of Iraq in the name of God and religion, to intervene against the position in Palestine. REPORT CONDEMNED. BY JEWISH LEADERS. NEW YORK. July 9. Jewish leaders almost universally 1 condemned the Palestine report. Samuel Untermeyer called the plan a major disaster. ’ Rabbi Stephen Wise, said it was I the greatest betrayal' of the most sacred trust. Boris Lipskv said it would satisfy | neither the Jews nor the Arabs, j Some spokesmen cautioned against j unreserved condemnation, and asked f to refer consideration at the coming l Geneva. Jewish Congressi