NOT BORNE OUT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 54, 6 March 1939, Page 7

NOT BORNE OUT

ARAB CONTENTION INDEPENDENCE OF PALESTINE NO PLEDGE MADE [By Telegraph—Pres. Association—Copyright) [ British Official Wireless J RUGBY, March 3. A White Paper published this evening gives the text in English o£ correspondence exchanged in Arabic between July, 1915, and March, 1916, Between Sir Henry McMahon, who was then British High Commissioner at Cairo, and Sherif Hussein of Mecca. It is stated that as a result of the work of the special sub-com-mittee set up in the Palestine conference the text has been revised so that where the language of the original draft or contemporary translations has been found on examination not to reproduce accurately the Arabic ot the actual correspondence the correct translation should be substituted. The claim of the Palestine Arabs to an independent Arab State in Palestine is based on their understanding of a passage in a letter from Sir Henry McMahon dated October 24, 1915. This passage, cited in the Peel report, and the variations made in the new text are of purely verbal importance. The Arab contention that Palestine was included in the limits within which Sir Henry said Britain was prepared to recognise and support the independence of the Arabs has never been accepted. The British view was stated by Mr. Winston Churchill as Colonial Secretary in 1922. He stated: “The promise was subject to a reservation which excluded the portions of Syria lying to the west of the district of Damascus. ’ This reservation has always been regarded by Britain as covering the whole of the Vilayet of Beirut and the independent Sanjak of Jerusalem. The whole of Palestine west of the Jordan was thus excluded from Sir Henry McMahon’s pledge.” It is also significant that in a letter to the Press in July, 1937, Sir Henry McMahon himself confirmed that he did not intend to include Palestine in his pledge to the Arabs. PROMINENT ARAB SHOT Received March 5, 11.20 p.m. JERUSALEM, March 4. Adnan Nashas Hibi, cousin of the delegate to the Palestine Conference, was shot and seriously injured while watching a football match at Herod's Gate.

STILL UNCHANGED

■JEWS’ ATTITUDE BRITISH BASIC SUGGESTIONS [ British Official Wire', tea.] RUGBY, March 3. Dr. Weizmann called on the Prime Minister at the House of Commons and reported the attitude of the Jewish delegation at the Palestine Conference towards suggestions for a solution of the problem. It has been arranged that to-mor-row afternoon the informal talks between some of the Jewish delegation and members of the British delegation will be resumed. It is gathered, however, that the Jews are still unwilling to accept the British suggestions as a basis for discussion in formal conference. In this respect there is at present, no change in their attitude, whi.’h has been further discussed among themselves, but it may be that at to-morrow's meeting they will put forward suggestions of their own. The Colonial Secretary (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald) discussed the position with the Foreign Secretary (Lord Halifax), who is confined to his house with influenza. The Foreign Undersecretary (Mr. R. A. Butler) accompanied the Colonial Secretary (Mr. MacDonald). It had been known that Mr. MacDonald was anxious to consult Lord Halifax, and as a result of the talk he will be more fully prepared for the continuation of the negotiations with the Jews to-morrow.

FOUND IN CAVE

BODIES OF 12 ARABS FURTHER DISORDERS JERUSALEM, March 3. The bodies of twelve Arabs, presumably executed by terrorists, were found in a cave. Soldiers threw a cordon around two Arab villages and shot dead two Arabs who attempted to escape. They detained several others. Arabs raided the French Consulate and wounded the Vice-Consul's son.