PALESTINE POLICY

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 184, 19 May 1939, Page 3

PALESTINE POLICY

HOME RULE AS SOLUTION WITHIN 10 YEARS \ OBJECTIVE OF BRITAIN; SHARING .OF GOVERNMENT ARABS AND JEWS British Official Wireless. RUGBY, May 17. • The declaration that Britain’s objective is the establishment within 10 years of an independent Palestine State in such treaty relations with the United Kingdom as will provide satisfactorily for the commercial and stratetgic requirements of both count' ries in the future is contained. in the White Paper* on Britain’s policy for Palestine. The proposal would involve consultation’’'with the Council of the League of Nations with a view to the termination of the mandate. The White Paper states that the independent State should be one in which Arabs and Jews share in the government in such a, way as to ensure that the essential interests of each community are safeguarded. Tlie establishment of the proposed independent State, would be preceded by a transitional . period throughout which Britain would retain the responsibility for the government of the country.- " • During the transitional period the people of Palestine would be given an increasing part in the government of their country. After Peace and Order. Both sections cf the population would have the opportunity of participating in the machinery of government .and tlie process would be carried on whether or not they both availed themselves of it-. As soon as peace and order had’ been sufficiently restored in Palestine steps would be taken to carry out this policy of giving the people of Palestine an increasing part in the government of their country, the objective being to place a Palestinian in charge of all departments of government with the assistance of British advisers and subject to the control of the High Commissioner. With this object in view Britain would be prepared immediately to arrange that Palestinians should be placed in charge of certain departments with British advisers. The Palestinian heads of departments would sit on ■ the executive council wfiieli would l advise the High Commissioner. Arabs and Jewish representatives would be invited to serve as heads of departments approximately in the proportion of their respective populations.