IN PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1925, Page 4

IN PALESTINE.

ME CRAIG IE INTERVIEWED. 3 P T.LMAKU, March 23. \ The Hon James Craigie, M.L.C., 0 who recently paid a visit to the Holy j Land, interviewed regarding the hos- e tility shown to Karl Balfour. said : 1 '• When 1 was in Jerusalem early last < year 1 made enquiries regarding the relationship between the people of the , various races in that land, and my ; conclusions, after gaining information ■ from all sources and from people of all creeds, was that Mohanimdans and < Christians entertained strong hostility j against the influx of members ol the ' Jewish races.. "When Viscount Allenby J took Jerusalem, he delivered an important speech to the people, in which he said that the Turks would be expelled from Palestine: that in future Palestine would be under the protection of the British and that, henceforth all races were to be equal. I was told that the declarations of the British leader were received with warm approval by the people, who returned to their- homes and thanked God for their deliverance and the conditions ot freedom which were promised by then deliverer. In the Coalition Government. Earl Balfour hold the post of Foreign Secretary, and, in that capacity. he made the declaration, which, of course, plans to restore the Jews to a position of dominance in the Holy Land. This was distinctly in contradiction of: the promises made by Viscount Allenby, end all outside Jewish circles were amazed that Earl Balfour should, as it were, have gone heck on these promises. i <•] was very much impressed by the slatemnts made to me indicating the strong undercurrent of feeling innkling in the breasts of all save the Jews. I was so much impressed with the information conveyed to me that I fedt that there was grave danger that, the trouble would end in bloodshed, and I thought it my duty, when I reached London, to convey my impressions candidly and itureservedly to Eat I Bai- - four. i left Jerusalem feeling that

trouble was brewing. Strong passions

were new up, and there was grave danger of an outburst sooner or later. ‘•Wlmii in London ! had the privilege of I.n-eliug Lord Balfour, and told him the position as it had appeared to me on the spot. 1 was graciously received h.v the ex-l’rime Minister.

v,];n listened with great interest to my recital of the position. I urged that if anything could he dene ti> east' the posit ion, action should he taken v.itliout delay, as it was plain to me that the future held trouble in store, unless a wav out. were found.'

Continuing, .Mr Craigie satd that recent r abler;!':!ms chronicling the journey of Lari Balfour to the Holy Land cousinied the impressions which he had formed on the spot, and showed plainly enough that racial feeling was strong, and likely to cause trouble. The (act

that the people adopted the extra-

ordinary course of going into mourning showed the feeling of the country. It, must not he assumed that this

resentment was against Earl Ballour personally as much as against the policy which lie had propounded on behalf of the then British Government, in a great measure nullifying the fair and acceptable promise;; made by Viscount Allenbv.