1939-06-01 — Page 9

ARAB REJECTION OF BRITAIN'S PROPOSALS Committee's Attitude Explained In Long Statement

Danger In Transition

Reservations

Beirut, To-day.

2

Arab High Committee for Palestine has published, in a document fifteen pages long, its reply to the British White Paper.

CHARACTER TEST U.S. INVITATION

NOT QUITE SO TO DISCUSSION

GOOD

ON COTTON TRADE

Washington, To-day.

The United States has asked Found guilty of larceny, Yung the ten major cotton export coun- Shun Shan, 27, who was remand- tries to participate in an interna- ed yesterday to enable him to get|tional conference at Washington witnesses to testify to his charac- on September 5 with a view to ter, was sentenced to 3 months' consider, the possibility of a world hard labour.

cotton marketing agreement.

Defendant Was charged with having attempted to steal the American lady, at the Post Office, on May 30.

All the more important. British proposals are re-hand-bag of Mrs. E. A. Wagner,

jected by the committee.

Explaining its attitude, the committee says that at the London Conference the British Govern- ment at first adopted a conciliatory policy but sought to evade issues as soon as it came to a discussion of practical proposals.

The British Government, it is stated, wishes to base the new regime in Palestine on the mandatory system which, in the Committee's view is re- grettable, since the mandate is at the root of all the trouble in that country and the starting point of all the injustice inflicted on the Arab population.

Although the British Government delay, to prevent illegal immigra- expressed a desire to render Pales- tion of Jews. tine independent it rendered the realisation of this independence con- ditional on the consent of the Jews who would never give it. Similarly.

the British Government claimed the right to prolong indefinitely the transition period of ten years should circumstances demand it.

WEAPON FOR JEWS

The Committee is of opinion that the sale of land to Jews should be British proposals would produce a absolutely prohibited, whereas the

contrary result.

WILL OF NATION

The Committee contends that Britain must bear responsibility for bloodshed in Palestine and In the Committee's view, it would

the final decision always be easy to create such cir-points out that .cumstances and thus delay granting of full independence. Un- certainty in this respect would be a convenient weapon in the hands of

With the help of God, the Arab the Jews who would leave nothing|nation would carry out its decision undone to prevent Palestine attain- to render Palestine independent ing her independence. Moreover, within a federation of Arab States the Government proposed would have no executive power and con- sequently no responsibility, Hence it would remain a mere instrument of British domination.

the concerning the fate of any nation must depend on the will of that nation.

and to preserve for all times its specifically Arab character.

In conclusion, the committee ex- presses gratitude to all Arabs fighting for their national cause in The Committee goes on to de-Palestine as well as Mussulmans mand the immediate formation of a and others in the world at large government composed of the repre- who sympathise with the Arab :sentatives of all sections of the Palestinian population in proportion to their numerical strength and the appointment of a commission charged with the task of drawing up a constitution.

NATIONAL HOME

cause.

Trang Ocean.

FALSE PRETENCES

Having pretended they were au- The Committee strongly condemns thorised to collect money for the any attempt based to establish a Pua Kung Temple, Chan Wing, 32, Jewish National Home in Palestine and Lau Kit, 25, were charged be- and declares that no Arab could fore Mr. R. A. D. Forrest this approve any constitution which re-morning. .cognised such a national home.

Defendants were formerly em- Regarding the question of ployed by a temple in Kowloon but Jewish immigration into Palestine, were dismissed. Defendants went the Committee states that it is un-to Pokfulam Road yesterday and able to accept the proposals con- tried to obtain money. One house -tained in the British White Book was the residence of a Chinese de- since they do not offer any definite tective, who had them arrested. -solution and it is urged that ener- Defendants - were fined $6 Cor :getic measures be taken, without three weeks' hard labour.

an

fied that when he knew defendant A witness for the defence, testi- in Shanghai, he was of good char- acter, but that was many years of good character or he would not ago. He still thought accused was

have appeared in Court.

Defendant was found guilty and

The countries invited by the State Department on behalf of Mr. Henry A. Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture, include Egypt, France (for the French exporting colonies), India, Mexica, Peru, the Sudan, Britain (for its exporting colonies), Russia, Argentina and Brazil,

Officials of the Department of Agriculture said the proposed dis- cussions will be exploratory and no specific plans for international co-operation in cotton production

meeting.

it was then shown that he had two and trade will be developed at the previous convictions. After sen- tence was passed, defendant was the Magistrate in Kowloon to deal aspects of the world cotton situa- with him for breach of a bond.

ordered to be taken to Kowloon for

However, they expect that all

tion will be studied thoroughly with a view to determine whether it may be advisable to recommed to the respective governments that a

RICKSHA COOLIE conference to work out details for

ACCUSED

Chan Yau, 40, ricksha coolie, was charged this morning, before Mr. R. A. D. Forrest, with larceny of $12 from an unknown sailor, in Queen's Road East, yesterday.

At the

international collaboration be con- vened later.-Reuter.

!

Mr. C. A. S. Russ pleaded not guilty on behalf of the defendant. Hearing was fixed for June 9, and bail of $50 was granted.

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