Mr. MacDonald Discusses Safeguards

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1939, Page 7

Mr. MacDonald Discusses Safeguards

LONDON, May 2%. . S

The latter half of Mr. MacDonald’s speech in the House of Commons on Palestine was devoted to an exposition of the safeguards provided in the White Paper proposal's both for the period of transition toward responsible Government and at the time of the establishment of the Independent Palestine State after 10 years. At each stage, said Mr. MacDonald, the Jewish National Home was carefully safeguarded. The future State was to be one in which the two' peoples would share in Government in such a way that the essential in-, terests of each were secure. i It might be a Unitary State, it might be ja Federal State, or it might be a State in which there was a predominantly Arab or a predominantly Jewish province enjoying considerable local autonomy. The everttual form of the Constitution was not prejudiced In the White Paper.

Interests of AH The whole spirit of the arrangement contemplated, the Minister pro- | ceeded, was that the interests of the S majority and minority alike should b&f|| adequately secured, and that thep mandatory Power should be satisfied that they were adequately secured, before it surrendered control of the ■ country. s ;||

In a notable reference to the en->i| thusiasm with which the Jewish. ’ National Home had been built up, Mr. MacDonald said: “If there is one thing certain, I believe it is' that the work of the. Jewish pioneers, in our time;'| has not been jn vain, blit that they ;|| have created something in which will continue to prosper.”

Fierce Criticism, Mr. L. S. Amery (Conservative—‘|| Sparkbrook) was also strongly of the White Paper, which he con-ip sidered was a repudiation of the|| pledges in the mandate. • Mr. Tom Williams, who. moved the % Labour amendment, fiercely criticised;* the Government’s policy, which he declared.had no moral foundation, was| inconsistent with the League maiw| date, and sacrificed the moderate 4; Arabs and Jews to the extremist Arabs, who were encouraged in • re-.<| sistance by Britain’s enemies. He re-|| garded the new policy as a fresh render to intimidation.

Mr. A. C. Crossley Stratford) deplored that the Arabs*|| fcr whom, he alleged, Jewish immi- M gration had meant penury and dis-|| possession of their land, had no c spokesman among the leaders bn - either side of the House., He urged,: that the Arabs should be given self-| government sooner than after 10 years. & Mr. J. A. Rothschild (Labour—lsleA 1 of Ely) accused Britain of havingy bowed the knee to Arab representa--lives who came to the London con- ~ ference. He asked for permanent j British rule in Palestine to guard the Jewish interests. The debate will be continued to-’i, morrow.