EGYPTIAN VIEWS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1939, Page 5

EGYPTIAN VIEWS

AT PALESTINE CONFERENCE JEWISH MIGRATION. ARABS REJECT BRITISH ARGUMENTS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, February 20. The Egyptian delegation to the Palestine conference submitted today a joint memorandum on behalf of Arab States, in which, it is understood, they defined their position relative to the claim of the Palestinian Arab, delegation in favour of independence for an Arab Palestine State. The Palestinian Arab delegation was strengthened by the arrival fom Alexandria of the second representative of the National Defence Party, Yaqub Effendi Farraj. Mr Malcolm MacDonald is believed to have stated Britain’s views on the question of Jewish immigration. The Palestinian Arabs put in a closely reasoned reply, rejecting the arguments of the British delegation and advocating, it is understood, cessation of Jewish immigration. Discussions with the Arabs were adjourned till Wednesday’ when Jewish immigration will again be discussed, as well as the question of sales of land to Jews. Tonight immigration was under discussion between the British and Jewish delegations. Seyyid Taufiq Essuwaidi has arrived from Bagdad. It is understood that Nuri Said, who will later hand over the representation of Irak to Essuwaidi, will remain in London till February 27. FEARS OF BREAKDOWN UNITED STAND BY ARABS SUGGESTED ERROR IN TACTICS. LONDON, February 21. The “News Chronicle” says the indications are for a breakdown of the Palestine talks. It is practically inevitable that the Government will dismiss the delegates shortly and impose its own plan. The situation approached a climax last night when a spokesman for Egypt, Iraq, Saudi-Arabia,. Transjordan and the Yemen submitted a unanimous memorandum announcing a united front with the Palestinian Arabs. It is stated that the remainder of the Arab world advised the Palestinian Arabs to accept nothing less than independent sovereign status. The memorandum is being submitted to Mr Chamberlain. The British and Jewish delegates also reached a stalemate and the talks were adjourned indefinitely. The Jews rejected suggestions for the restriction of immigration and land sales, maintaining that this would mean permanent minority status. They demanded immigration of an equal economic absorptive capacity. The “News Chronicle”- adds that some observers find that the Government made a tacticial error in inviting the Arabs, thereby, uniting them, instead of seeking the services of a mediator.