BRITAIN’S POLICY IN PALESTINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18619, 15 July 1930, Page 7

BRITAIN’S POLICY IN PALESTINE.

STATEMENT BY LORD PASSFIELD. An important statement upon Jewish immigration in Palestine was macie by Lord Passfield, becietary for the Colonies, to a deputation from the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which is an elected representative body of the Jews of tne British Empire. The deputation, in expressing the views of the Board on the suspension of the 2300 immigration certificates for Palestine, granted on the Labour schedule for the current year, said the Government’s decision had prejudiced tne work of the Jewish agency, and seemed to indicate that the Government had made up its mind that Jewish immigration must be stopped. The Government’s policy had not created a local and contented population in Palestine, and persecutions were to be observed in the foreign relations of this country. The Jews had for centuries suffered injustice. The deputation urged the British Government to release the certificates, and to demonstrate its intention to administer Palestine in the spirit of the mandate. In reply, Lord Passfield said that the protests of the Jews appeared to have been based on a misunderstanding. There had been no change in the policy of the Government, and no uncertainty in its execution of the mandate. The mandate, however, did not envisage the establishment of a Jewish State, but only of a Jewish National Home in Palestine. Consistently with maintenance of the position and the rights of the Arab population, there must be a limit to Jewish immigration determined by the absorptive capacity of the country. There had been no stoppage of immigration, and the 950

certificates on the labour schedule for (he present half year had been sanctioned in advance, and had not been suspended. The Commission had renorted that a certain number of Arabs had been economically prejudiced as a result of Jewish land purchases. Although it was recognised that the Jewish agpncy had paid liberal monetary compensation, the Government considered it necessary to inquire into the truth of the allegations, and with this object had secured the best possible expert to make inquiries. These were being pursued without delay, but no promise could be made as to the date on which the decision could be given.