LEAGUE VIEW OF PALESTINE

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 5

LEAGUE VIEW OF PALESTINE

Mr Eden Defines British Hopes

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATE IN SUPPORT (British Official Wireless) (Received September 15, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 14. Addressing the League of Nations at Geneva on Palestine, the Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden) said the problem was not one which concerned only the .Arabs and Jews nor one for which the British Government alone was required to find a solution. The problem concerned the League as a whole, and the British Government would be unable to proceed without being assured of the approval of the Council for the course it proposed to follow. The British Government still adhered to the opinion that the scheme of partition, on the general lines recommended by the Royal Commission, represented the best and most hopeful solution. All Mr Eden asked at this stage was that the British Government be given authority to work out details. Mr Eden proposed that the Council should appoint a special body to visit Palestine, to negotiate with the Arabs and the Jews, and to submit to the British Government proposals fof the detailed scheme of partition. This body would also undertake financial and other inquiries, and at a later stage a boundary commission would have to be appointed. The chief New Zealand delegate (Mr W. J. Jordan); supporting Mr Eden, said he hoped that while all local aspects would be considered the necessity would be observed of finding an adequate national home for the Jews in the part of the world to which they originally belonged. Mr Jordan also emphasized the desirability of bringing together representatives of the Jews and Arabs in conference.