BRITISH POLICY IN PALESTINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18536, 5 April 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

BRITISH POLICY IN PALESTINE.

Prime Minister’s Statement MUST RETAIN MANDATE. (Britiaii Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 3. The Prime Minister, asked in the House of Commons by Mr Baldwin whether he was now in a position to make a statement regarding his policy in Palestine, replied: "The Government will continue to administer Palestine in accordance with the terms of the Mandate as approved by the Council of the League of Nations. That is an international obligation upon which there can be no question of receding under the terms of the Mandate. "His Majesty’s Government are responsible for promoting the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which might prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights or political status enjoyed by the Jews in other countries. A double undertaking is involved to the Jewish people on the one hand and to the non-Jewish population of Palestine on the other, and it is the firm resolve of his Majesty’s Government to give effect in equal measure to both parts of the Declaration and to do equal justice to all sections of the population in Palestine. That is a duty from which they will not shrink, and to the discharge of which they will apply all the resources at their command.

"The report of the Commission covers a wide field. The Commission was appointed to consider the immediate causes of the deplorable disturbances of August last and to suggest a means to prevent their recurrences. In endeavouring faithfully to carry out their terms of reference the Commission must have found it difficult to draw a line very rigidly. The Government is now studying the various recommendations of the Commission, with a view to dealing with the immediate causes of the outbreak and to prevent their recurrence, and they are in consultation with the interests concerned. I wish it to be understood that this statement includes the immediate provision of a police force required to secure civil peace in the existing circumstances.” Mr Baldwin said that he thought that Mr Macdonald had gone as far as he could at the moment, and that his statement would be received with satisfaction. He presumed that in due course an opportunity would be given the House for a discussion.

The Prime Minister replied: "We are in active consultation with all the parties concerned, both in Palestine and those who are available for conferences here, and no time will be lost in amplifying the statement I have made today.” Mr Lloyd George associated himself with what Mr Baldwin had said.