PALESTINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26793, 9 June 1948, Page 6

PALESTINE

Sir,— Again Mr Bernstein misrepresents true facts. He forgets that Turkish policy was to oppress the Arabs and even forbid them education, that King Ibn Saud drove the Turks from his domains before 1914, that the success of AUenby’s campaign was greatly enhanced by King Hussein’s Arab armies* assisted by Colonel Lawrence. He Ignores Britain’s pledges to the Arabs signed in October. 1915, and the Sykes-Picot agreement of May. 1916, which was shamefully concealed from Hussein for 18 months, and that the conflicting ’Balfour Declaration was signed only in November, 1917. „ .... Britain continually refuses to publish the full text of her promises to the Arabs, claiming that it is contrary to interest? On March 27, 1923, Sir Edward Grey, who was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and .the responsible Minister. on whose instructions McMahon made his pledges to the Arabs in 1915, said in the House of Lords: * I seriously suggest to the Government that the hest way of clearing our honour in this matter is to publish the whole of the engagements which we entered into during the war—l am sure we cannot redeem our honour by covering up our engagements and pretending that there is no inconsistency. if there really is inconsistency. Other notable figures pressing for publication were Lloyd George and Asquith English copies possessed by Hussein definitely include Palestine. within Arab territory.—X am, etc.. Citizen.