Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1931 PERPLEXING PALESTINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 February 1931, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1931 PERPLEXING PALESTINE

THE recurrence of dissatisfaction and unrest in Palestine indicates the dilfieully of administrating the Mandate, in such a jnunner as to please both the Arabs and the .Jews comprising the hulk of the population. In conformity with the Balfour Declaration' (1917), the Mandate was drawn up in such a. way as to provide for the establishment inPalestine of “a Jewish National Home.” riial would have been easily enough accomplished, if there had not been already established in the country some. 000,009 Arabs, or if the country had been twice the size. As it is, in ten years the Jewish population lias been trebled, from 50,000 to 160,000. '1 he constant and steady influx of Jews naturally alarmed the Arabs, who on throe occasions— in 1920, 1921, and 1929-have forcibly a(lacked the Jews; causing loss of life and of property. The

onslaught of 1929 was so serious that I In- Mandatory Committee of the League Nations called the British GovcrnnHM’.l to task for not governing the country with a stronger hand. The British Government, however, set up a Commission under Sir Walter Shaw to ascertain the immediate causes of the outbreak and to recommend steps to prevent a recurrence.” file Report of tlie Commission indicated “that tlio outbreak was the product, of the general |V:ir of the Arabs that lheir political and economic, future was threatened by (be increasing scttllomonl, of the Jews.” Phis view was challenged, therefore the Untisli Government sent, out a special commissioner, Sir John Hope Simpson,

••to report on the question of land, immigration, and settlement.

In tlie passage at arms which occurred between the Alundute Committee and Ibe British Govermnoni, the latter gained a deeided advantage, so much so (bat al, the September meeting oT the League, last year, the British Foreign Secretary was able to uphold successfully the Palestinian policy of his Government in the past, and to give satisfactory assurances for the future direction of that policy. The next step was lluit in the middle of October last, the British Government issued a- White Paper, in which it outlined the steps which it proposed to take in order to create a more tranquil aimosphere in Palestine, and among otber things it proposed to restrict the immigration of Jews, at least temporarilv. and in such a manner as to prevent congestion of the labour-market. Al, once vociferous denunciations were voiced by leading Zionists in Britain and America, who accused the British Government of abrogating the Balfoui Declaration. In replying, Lord Passfield, the* Colonial Secretary, said: The intention of the White Paper, ’which I should have thought was clear, was to make the possibility of the suspension of Jewish immigration contingent upon unemployment, _on such a scale as would have a. serious effect in preventing the Arab population from obtaining the work necessary for its maintenance. . . It is not intended or indeed suggested that such State or otber land in Palestine as may be made available by settlement or' irrigation or otherwise shall bo reserved exclusively for Arabs . . ■ Then two days later, in order to make its policy clear, the British Goseinment announced that it would approve of 1500 permits being granted to Jewish emigrants wishing to enter Palestine. ■Furthermore, it announced that it would “guarantee and fur the first year pay the interest and sinking-fund charges on a. loan of 21 million sterling for the development of works in Palestine and to provide land for 10,000 families.” Help from this fund is first- to be extended to landless Arabs, and subsequently to members of both races, in accordance with tlie merits of individual eases. These measures, together with the decision to create a Legislative Council of 22 members, including both Jews and Moslems, to assist tlie High- Commissioner in governing tlie country, seemed to satisfy' the leaders of Zionism in Britain and America, as well as tlie Palestinian Aloslems. But apparently the continued influx of Jews has created alarm and bitterness among Aloslems and Christians, alike, and there is a threat that, the Arabs of Trnnsjordania anil Syria may support their coreligionists of Palestine in their anliJowish attitude.

If tlie British Government is wise it will act firmly. Its action, or inaction in India is evidently interpreted by tlie Arab population of Palestine as weakness. Having issued its White lapci and appended amendments thereto, it must uphold its policy with firmness and strength, if it is to obtain the respect of both sections of the population of Palestine. And it is able to pursue such a course with a good conscience, since its policy is to be just, alike to Aiohainmendans and Jews, in the Holy Land.