PALESTINE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1930, Page 3

PALESTINE

MR HENDERSON REPORTS

TO THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS,

(Official , Wireless.)

RUGBY, May 15

At a meeting of the Council of the League of Nations this morning, Mr Henderson (British Foreign teecretaiy) made a statement regarding the geneiai situation in I’alestine. He said the Council was aware that a commission of enquiry into the disturbances of last August in Palestine had presented its report. The report would form the subject o'f discussion by the Permanent Mandates Commission. A lull state incut would then be made by the accredited British representative, but he wished to be permitted to anticipate that statement in certain respects of special interest to members of the Council on matters relating to the report. H£ Would refer firstly to the pripiary duty of’ a mandatory, as of any Government, namely, the preservation of order.

The British Government had increased the British military forces in Palestine. They had considered with their expert advisers the question of the garrison permanently required in that country, and pending a clear decision on this subject, they did not propose to make any reduction in the present force.

A highly qualified police official; (Mr Dowbiggin of Ceylon), was sent in January to consider the reorganisation of tlie police. His full report had not yet been received, but certain interin recommendations for the better protection of Jewish colonies had beeh-adopt-ed, and were being put into force. Tlie n ritish section of the police had been increased by four hundred men, and a farther increase of seventy-nine men was now being made.

The Commission, in their report, had 'aid special emphasis on problems relating to land and immigration, and the ■'.•itish Government had selected ° John Hore-Simpson to proceed forthwith to Palestine in order to confer with the High Commissioner, and report on land settlement, immigration and development Mr Henderson then referred to the presence in England of an' Arab delegation from Palestine, wit hwhorn a discussion regarding the future policy in the country had taken place It was enough to' say of those discussions, that they ovl nlaced the British Government tn full possesion of the. views of leading Arabs, regarding the aspirations of the Arab community

The British Government were now enWged on an" ovamimtion of T'’o nrohlem of devising means within the frame of work of the mandate, to satisfy legitimate aspirations, and remove anv annrehensions .that might he enter *• o - oc 1 .

Mr Henderson added that he propos-, -A to submit for the approval o<- the Council in private, the' names of three Gentlemen who would he prennred to arr>r,r)t. ser v ice on the Comn’ission to deal with the dispute over the Wailing ' t ' tr Tll in Jerusalem. Those gentlemen were Eliof Lofgren,, Ta former Swedish Ministry), Charles Barde, (a former Swiss Judge); and F. Komne of Hol'nnd formerly Governor of Sumatra.