PALESTINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1925, Page 4

PALESTINE.

DEPUTATION TO COLONIAL SECBETARY. JERUSALEM, April 26. The Hon L. C. M. S. Amcry met representatives of an Arab deputation. The latter called attention to the .serious situation in Palestine and bogged Air Amery to consider their case. Sheik Suleman Faroukliy, president of the National Party, explained the grievances of the Arabs, wiio were loyal to Britain. He said the Earl o! Balfour's declaration that owing to oppression the country was dying economically. was because wealth was leaving the country. The Arabs had no share in its legislation, whereas under the Turkish regime they had a large share in the government. The Sheik concluded by saying that Palestineans were desired to live peacefully in the Palestine as natives and not as foreign-

Eollowing Sheik Faroukliy, Amir Bey Tamini, declared the Arabs were much better off tinder the Turkish regime. Britain had not fulfilled her promises to the Arabs. The Arabs demanded a representative Government responsible to a Parliament elected by the people, and a Constitution established by a National Council, including a legislative with administrative powers; sacred places to he under the protection of the inhabitants, the equality of the right of all elements, and the protection of British interests compatibly with the nation's interest. The lion. 1.. C. -M. S. Amery. in reply, said the British Government was of the opinion that there was no incompatibility between the Arab ami British co-operation and the Earl of Balfour’s declaration. Britain’s object was to ensure that Palestine would no a national home for the Arabs in every sense equally with the Jews. 'I lie expressions ‘‘ a national home lor the Jews ” meant nothing more than that the existing Jewish communities should be able to fulfil the desire to live their own cultural life and have an opportunity for development. Ibis should be definitely recognised as a right and not merely as a sufferance policy of the British Government which looked firstly to the prosperity of the population whereof the great majority were Arab, and she was only concerned with Jewish settlement so far as to see it rceived tail' conditions. The increase in the prosperity of the country uas proved by the fact that the population of Palestine was now 806,001) whereof 108,000 were Jews, as compared with 67.’!,000 including 55,000 Jews in 10-10. Therefore, said Mr Amery. there was no fear that the local population would lie outnumbered by Jewish immigration.

The lion. Amery emphasised tin Arabs ill-adviseilly rclu.scd the opportunities of consultation ami represent a lion. The British Government wa: anxious to secure the eo-operation am the advice of all representative Arabs hut, Mas not asking this as a favour The Arabs now had the opportunity o! becoming a great nation again, provided they concentrated on their own development and not on mistaken lean regarding the Government’s policy.