THE CHINA
TEN YEAR TRANSITION
PLAN FOR
FOR PALESTINE Scheme Pleases Neither Jews Nor Arabs
Bitter Jewish Accusation
Of Breach Of Faith
tinians in charge of all departments the as- of the government with
sistance of British advisers and sub-
ject to the control
Commissioner.
of
With this abject in
GRAND MUFTI
the High NOT ALLOWED
view His
Majesty's Government will be pre- TO RETURN
for
pared immediately to arrange Palestinians to be placed in charge
London, To-day. of certain departments with British
The White Paper outlining the British Govern-advisers.
Palestinian heads of de-
ment's intentions in Palestine was published partments will sit on the Executive
Council which advises the High definite period, to grant to the
Commissioner. Arab and Jewish
to
last evening. It envisages the establishment of an independent representatives will be invited
Palestine State within ten years in treaty rela-serve as heads of departments ap- proximately in proportion to their tion with Britain, providing satisfactory com- respective populations. mercial and strategic requirements to both AS CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT countries. Jews and Arabs will share in the Government în
proportion to the population.
During the transitional period, Jews and Arabs
will be given an increasing part in the Gov-trative ernment.
re-
Jewish immigration will be stricted to approximately one-third
·
L
London, To-day. The British Government has decided to refuse, for an in- Grand Mufti permission to make his domicile in Palestine, Mr. the Macdonald told House of Commons yesterday.
Malcolm
The Government, he added, held the Grand Mufti responsible for The number of Palestinians in the acts of terrorism în Palestine charge of departments will be in- as he was the leader of the party been en- permit which for months had creased as circumstances until all heads of departments are gaged in killing, not only British and Jews, but a large Palestinians exercising the adminis- subjects
and advisory functions number of ArabsTM
In reply to a further question, which are at present performed by
that British officials. When that stage the Colonial Secretary said
will be the Government was contemplat- is reached consideration JEWISH AGENCY VIEW
Arab prisoners. Trans- The Jewish Agency communique given to the question of converting ing a early release of the Jewish
that the Executive Council into a Council and of the population, giving over the on the White Paper declares
consequential | Ocean. next five years a yearly quota of in effect the new policy denies the of Ministers with a 10,000 immigrants, together with Jewish people the right to recon-change in the status and, functions heads of depart-
to achieving the desired the admission of 25,000 refugees as stitute their national home in their of Palestinian
earliest possible ments. a contribution to the refugee pro-ancestral country.
His Majesty's Government make objective at the The policy transfers authority to blem.
It is also mentioned that during the Arab majority and puts the no proposals at this stage regarding would
the powers Jews at the mercy of that major-establishment of an elective legisla the transitional period steps will Nevertheless, they
be taken to increase. ity. It also establishes a territor- ture.
this as an appro-and responsibilities of municipal ial ghetto for the Jews in their own regard
priate constitutional develop corporations and local councils. homeland.
public opinion "BREACH OF FAITH" The Jewish people regard this in Palestine hereafter show itself intentions and objectives, as un-“breach of faith" as a surrender to in favour of such a development rorists against their fellow Arabs and certainty is felt to be one of the Arab terrorism and one which wi-they be prepared, provided local Jews alike must receive unqualified major causes of the
indens the breach between Jews and conditions permit, to establish the condemnation but it cannot be deni- Palestine, Reuter's lobby correspon- Arabs. dent understands.
After five years Jewish immigra- tion ceases unless the Arabs permit .otherwise.
TO REMOVE UNCERTAINTY Purpose of the Government's declaration of its Palestine policy is to remove uncertainty as to its
cisms from both sides.
trouble
SHARED AUTHORITY The Government specify alternative to the extreme and Arab claims
It is a cruel blow but it will not subdue the Jewish people.
ment and should
a view
date.
The methods employed by Arab ter-
SOURCE OF FRICTION
de-
is
of
ed that the fear of indefinite Jewish necessary machinery,
immigration is widespread amongst AFTER FIVE YEARS ·
the Arab population, and that this It is a policy to which the Jews
years from fear has made possible the diatur- de- will not acquiesce. The new re-
At the end of five The fact that the policy is finite, is expected to produce criti-gime will only be maintained by the restoration of peace and order, bances which have given a serious
force.
an appropriate body representative setback to economic progress, These will be faced, however, in In the darkest hour of Jewish his-of the people of Palestine and of pleted the Palestine exchequer, ren- re-tory, Britain proposes to deprive His Majesty's Government will be dered life and property insecure and the belief that the proposals
their last hope and
set up to review the working of produced bitterness between Arab present a just solution which pays the Jews of
arrangements durand Jewish populations which Jews close the road back to their home-
constitutional
and deplorable between citizenship regard to the obligations of
land.
ing the transitional period
recommenda- the same country. and Arabs alike.
consider and make tions regarding the constitution of the independent Palestine State.
If in these circumstances immi-
to After mentioning certain points
the regarding the security of the Holy gration is continued Places, the protection of minorities economic absorptive capacity of the Jewish national home, and strate-siderations, a fatal enmity between and of the special position of the country, regardless of all other con- They stress that the delay in gic questions on which His Ma- the two peoples will be perpetuated
in to be satisfied that adequate pro- become a permanent source of fric- the in the contem-Ition amongst all peoples granting independence is not only jesty's Government would require and the situation in Palestine may
vision was made
Near and Middle East. plated treaty and constitution, the
The alternatives before His Ma- to declaration goes on to make clear
jesty's Government are either that His Majesty's Government will do everything in their power seek to expand the Jewish National Indian Muslim opinion is indicat-to create conditions which will en- it
as an Jewish an independent State in which Jews and Arabs will share the authority of government in a manner serving the interests
of both.
No arbitrary decision is taken on the form of the new State, which
.can be federal or unitary. be shaped in consultation with the League.
ARABS DISPLEASED Meanwhile, Arab circles in Lon- don express grave disappointment in the transitional period, being of opinion that the utmost limit should
have been three years.
1
in
against Arab interests but against the general national interests that Palestine will be unable proceed to the objective of Arab
The White Paper contains a re-Federation. ference to protecting the interests of foreign countries, which
1.
understood, refers especially American Missions.
is
to
to
up
ed by Moulana Hasrat Mohami of able on independent Palestine State Home indefinitely by immigration
the All-India Muslim League, who to
come into
also declares the transitional per-years. Under the arrangement for ad-iod is too long.-Reuter. mission of 25,000 refugees, it is ex- pected that 10,000 children will be involved.
LEAGUE APPROVAL
the
The whole scheme is subject to approval by the League, and permanent Mandates
ག་ ་
GOVERNMENT'S PLAN FOR
being within ten against the strongly expressed will of the Arab people of the country or to permit further expansion of CONSULTATION PROPOSAL If at the end of ten years the Jewish national home by im- it appears to His Majesty's Gov-migration only if the Arabs are pre-
to their pared to acquiesce in it. ernment that contrary
The former policy means rule by hope, circumstances require post-- ponement of the establishment of force. Apart from other considera- the independent State, they will tions such a policy seems to His
Commission STEADY CHANGES Consult with representatives of the Majesty's Government to be con-
is expected to consider it in June, passing it to the League Council -later.
"
to
people of Palestine, the Council of trary to the whole spirit of Article As soon as peace and order have the League of Nations and the 22 of the League Covenant, as well
neighbouring Arab states before as to their specific obligations The White Paper will be discuss-been sufficiently restored in Pales-deciding on such postponement. If the Arabs in Palestine must be bas- carry His Majesty's-Government come to ed sooner or later on mutual toler- ed by the House of Commons next tine, steps will be taken to Monday and Tuesday, when Mr out the policy of giving the people the conclusion that postponement ance and goodwill. Malcolm Macdonald (the Colonies of Palestine an increasing part in is unavoidable, they will invite the The peace, security and progress Secretary) will explain the Govern the government of their country, co-operation of these parties in of the Jewish national home itself
the objective, being to place Pales-framing plans for the future with require this. British Wireless. ment reason for the decisions,
No comments yet.
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