PARTITION PLAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19371, 8 July 1937, Page 6

PARTITION PLAN

STATES IN PALESTINE ARAB AND JEWISH AREAS MANDATE REPLACEMENT COMMISSION I ‘ROPOSALS (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.15 p.m. RUGBY, July 7. The outstanding feature of the report of the Palestine Royal Commission is the plan it offers for the partition of Palestine.

The plan provides for terminating the present mandate for Palestine and replacing it by a treaty system. The treaties would declare that within as short a period as is convenient two sovereign independent States would be established, one an Arab State, consisting of Transjordan, united with that part of Palestine which lies to the cast and south of the suggested frontier, and the other a Jewish State, consisting of that part of Palestine which lies to the north and west of that frontier.

In addition a new mandate for holy places should, it is recommended, be instituted for the .protection of these holy places as a permanent trust, unique in its character and purpose, and to ensure free and safe access to them for all the world.

Accompanying the report is a statement of the policy of the British Government which declares that the Government finds itself in general agreement with the arguments and conclusions of the commission, and agrees that a scheme of partition on the general lines recommended by the commission represents the best and most hopeful solution of the deadlock. The Government proposes to advise His Majesty accordingly. Obligations to League

The Government, therefore, proposes to take such steps as are necessary and appropriate, having regard to its existing treaty obligations under the covenant of the League of Nations and other international instruments, to obtain freedom to give effect to the scheme of partition and to which it earnestly hopes it may be possible to secure an effective measure of consent on the part of the communities concerned. Pending the establishment of such a scheme the British Government has no intention of surrendering its responsibility for peace, order and good government throughout Palestine. In the immediate future, while a form of scheme of partition is being worked out, the Government proposes as an interim measure that steps should be taken to prohibit any land transactions which might prejudice the scheme.

Further, it proposes that a total Jewish immigration in all categories of 8000 persons shall be permitted for the period of eight months from August. 1937, to March, 1938, provided the economic absorptive capacity of the country is not exceeded. Government Endorsement In supporting the solution of the Palestine problem by means of the partition, the Government is much impressed by the advantages which it offers both to Arabs and Jews. The Arabs would obtain their national independence and thus be enabled to cooperate on an equal footing with Arabs of neighbourig countries in the cause of Arab unity and progress. They would finally be delivered from all fear of Jewish domination and anxiety lest their holy places should ever come under Jewish control. The Arab State would receive substantial financial assistance from Britain and the Jewish State.

On the other hand the partition would secure the establishment of a Jewish national home without fear of future Arab rule. The partition would also convert the Jewish national home into a Jewish State-with full control over immigration and its. nationals would acquire a status similar to that enjoyed by nationals of other countries. The Jews would at last cease to live a minority life and the primary objective of Zionism would thus be attained. Rights of Minorities The rights of the minorities would be strictly .guaranteed in both States under the proposed treaties. Fear and suspicion would be replaced by confidence and security and both peoples would enjoy peace. The commission concludes: “Peace under the mandate can be maintained only by repression which, however, does not solve the problem, nor does it help towards a single self-governing Palestine. The British will not flinch from the task of continuing to govern Palestine under the mandate if in honour bound to do so, but they will be justified in asking if there is no other way in which their duty can be done.

"Giving the Arabs and Jews all they want will not solve the problem. No fair-minded statesman can think it right that 400,000 Jews, whose entry into Palestine has been facilitated by the British Government and approved by the League of Nations, should be handed over to Arab rule, or that if the Jews should become the majority 1,000,000 Arabs should be handed over to their rule.”

There was an unusual scene to-day outside the office in Kingsway where Government publications are sold, hundreds, .including many Jews, clamouring for copies of the commission’s report at 6s 6d each.