Notes on the News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 February 1939, Page 5

Notes on the News

Arabs And Palestine At the conference iu London stress *yas laid by the Arabs on the point that they have been in possesion of the country for 1300 years. In the winter of 637, the then masters of the greater part of Syria, laid siege to Jerusalem. The city held out for four months. “Do you not know,” said the Christian Patriarch of Jerusalem, in a parley with the Arab general, “that this city is holy, and that offers violence to it draws upou tils* head the vengeance of Heaven V” ”\Ve kuow it,'* replied the general, Abu Obeidah, “to l»e the house of prophets, where their bodies lie interred: we kuow it to be the place whence our prophel Mahomet made his uocturnai asceut to Heaven: and we know that we are more worthy of possessing it than you arc, nor will we raise the siege till Allah has delivered it into our hands, as he has done many other places.” Seeing there was no further hope, the patriarch consented to give up the city on condition that the Caliph Umar came in person and took possession and signed the articles of surrender. Omar consented. He made the long journey from Medina to Jerusalem, entering flic Holy City, not like a conqueror, but on foot, with his staff in his hand, and wearing his simple, much-patched Arab garb. The terms of surrender included a recognition of Moslem superiority, and were in many respects most humiliating to the Jews. But the Caliph gave them, under his own hand, an assurance of protection in their lives and fortunes, the use of their churches, and the exercise of their religion. fraq And Britain As a settlement of the Palestine problem the Arabs want a treaty of alliance in similar terms to the treaty between Britain and Iraq. This treaty was signed in 1930. It was designed to “consolidate the friendship and to maintain and perpetuate the relations of good understanding” between Great Britain and Iraq. Article one declared: “There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the Britannic Majesty and His Majesty the King of Iraq. . . . There shall be full and frank consultation between them in all matters of foreign policy which may affect their common interests. ...” Each of the parties agrees to aid the other in the event of a war in which either is involved. “The aid of His Majesty the King of Iraq in the event of war or the imminent menace of war will consist iu furnishing to His Britaunic Majesty on Iraq territory all facilities and assistance in his power including the use of railways, rivers, ports, aerodromes, and means of communication.” The treaty permits Great Britain to have certain air bases in Iraq, and to maintain certain permanent forces, such forces in no way to “prejudice the sovereign rights of Iraq.” On the coming into force of the treaty Iraq was admitted to the League of Nations. Come The Three Corners In a speech at Blackpool, Mr. Neville Chamberlain quoted the words from Shakespeare: “Come the three corners of the world in arms and we shall shock them.” The words are from King John, Act 5, Scene VII. The full quotation is: This England never did, nor never shall. Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror But when it first did help to wound - itself. Now these her princes are come home again. Come the three corners of the world And we shall shock them: Nought . shall make u§ rue. If England to itself do rest but true.