ARAB UNREST

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 196, 20 July 1936, Page 2

ARAB UNREST

MOSLEM FEARS. JEWISH IMMIGRATION. By comparison with the much publicised case for Jewish aspirations in Palestine, the views of the Arabs have not received great attention in Britain. The arrival in London recently, therefore, of Mr E. A. Ghory, secretary of the Palestine Arab party, and editor of the Al-Luva newspaper, has been timely (wrote a London correspondent on June 18). Mr Ghory emphasises that the Arab movement of protest is not confined to Palestine. Arab feeling, lie declares, is running high in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and Trans-Jordan. The Arabs in Traus-Jordau have been so restless that the British Government has had to send soldiers to the frontier in case they should try to help their compatriots in Palestine. In Syria the Arabs went on strike, and decided to boycott all Jewish goods. Tliev have also raised funds to help the Arabs of Palestine. There have been demonstrations in Iraq, and there again the Arabs decided to boycott Jewish goods. Funds have been raised both in Iraq and in Egypt, and, indeed, the whole Moslem world has been thoroughly roused. DESIRE FOR HARMONY.

These are very significant facts for the British Empire, Mr Ghory considers. In the British Empire itself, he points out, there are about 100,000,000 Arabs and Moslems. They all desire the friendship of Great Britain, hut the question of Palestine is proving a formidable harrier in the path of this friendship. Unless Jewish immigration is stopped and the just demands of the Arabs are met, Mr Ghory states, these 100,000,0011 Arabs and Moslems cannot well remain on good terms with the British “We are insisting on the stoppage of Jewish immigration because we feel that the country cannot stand any more immigrants, and that Jewish migration threatens the Arabs of Palestine with annihilation,” Mr Ghory declared. “In 1918 the Arabs comprised 93 per cent, of the population. In 1936 we are barely 70 per cent., the remaining 30 per cent, being Jews. The Jews numhered 175,000 in 1931. In 1936 there are 400,000 Jews. JEWS AS LAND OWNERS.

“The land in Palestine has been purchased by the Jews in considerable quantities. Most of the fertile land has been bought by them. In 1930 Sir John Hope-Simpson, the expert, who was sent by the British Government to report on the land and immigration questions, reported that the minimum requirement of land for an Arab family was 130 donoms.

“Blit he found in 1930 that the average land in possession of the Arabs was 91 donoms for each family. Since 1930 the Jews have acquired a further 500,000 donoms, so that the land in Arab possession has decreased still further.

“To turn now to our demand for the establishment of a national Constitutional Government to represent all sections of the population in equal proportion to their numbers. It is supported by the fact that our country was recognised as an independent country according to Article 22 of the Covenant of the League. Furthermore, Article 2 of the mandate and other provisions make it obligatory on the mandatory Power to encourage and establish self-governing institutions in the Holy Land. THE ARAB DEMANDS.

“These are our main demands: (1) The stoppage of immigration. (2) The stoppage of land sales to Jews. (3) The establishment of a national Constitutional Government.

“The stoppage of Jewish immigration is the most important. It will help to end the present situation. It will constitute a gesture of goodwill on the part of Britain to the millions of Arabs and Aloslems throughout the world. And in case the British Government think it advisable to send a Royal Commission to Palestine, the stoppage of immigration will facilitate the task of that commission.

“The Arabs of Palestine appeal to the famous integrity and justice of the British people to bring to an immediate end the sad situation which exists in Palestine. The Arabs of Palestine are confident that British justice will eventually be established, and will give them their rightful demands. But immediate action is necessary.

“After every outbreak of trouble the British Government have sent out a commission of inquiry, which has reported on the causes of unrest, and recommended to the Government several solutions to avoid future troubles, and to establish justice in Palestine. The 1930 White Paper (the Passfield Report) meant to do justice to the Arabs. We hope that the Government will carry out its recommendations.”