GREAT OPPORTUNITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 February 1939, Page 5

GREAT OPPORTUNITY

HOPE OF BRINGING PEACE TO PALESTINE MR MACDONALD’S APPEAL FOR CO-OPERATION. SUPPORTED BY OPPOSITION. (British Official Wireless.' RUGBY, February 23. The work of the Palestine Conference continues. An informal meeting between representatives of neighbouring Arab States, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, with representatives of the Jewish Agency and the United Kingdom delegation, including Lord Halifax Mr MacDonald, Colonial Secretary, and Mr Butler, Foreign Under-Secretary, took place today. The discussion was of a general character, and a further meeting will be held tomorrow. In the meantime the Palestinian Arabs will be kept informed of these proceedings. The work of the conference was mentioned in the House of Commons today, when Mr MacDonald moved a supplementary estimate of £14,400 on account of expenses incurred by it. -Mr MacDonald said how delighted the Government had been to welcome the various representatives to London. He continued, “The members of the conference have a great responsibility and a great opportunity. If they can, in co-operation with each other, bring peace in Palestine by agreement they will be doing something which is in the best interests of the Arabs and Jews alike in Palestine and which will earn the gratitude of many millions of people in all parts of the world who are anxious that disorders should end in a land which is holy for Christians, Moslems and Jews.” A POSSIBLE EXAMPLE. Mr C. R. Attlee, leader of the Opposition supporting the vote, said: “We are all deeply concerned that these discussions should succeed. We realise the enormous issues involved and the complexity of these questions. I am glad Mr MacDonald has stressed the responsibility of those taking part. I think their responsibility is not only for the future of Palestine—it may concern the future of the world, because, if at this time we can get a peaceable settlement between these conflicting races, it may set an example that may be followed by the rest of the world.” Mr Attlee was supported by Mr Harris for Liberals and Mr Maxton (Independent Labour) and the vote was agreed to without difficulty. Other 'supplementary estimates on account of Palestine presented to the House by Mr MacDonald, included £1,120,700 in connection with the defence of Palestine and trans-Jordan, as well as a grant in view of the expenditure incurred by the Palestine Government arising from the disturbances. RESTORATION OF ORDER. Both had been necessitated by the deterioration in the situation which had occurred subsequent to the presentation of the original estimates, and which had involved the dispatch of police and military reinforcements to Palestine. “It is at least satisfactory,” said Mr MacDonald, “that as the result of military and police reinforcements, and extra expenditure; the position in Palestine has improved slowly but surely over recent months.” He continued that the main trouble now lay in the constant series of individual acts of sabotage and assassination which were far more difficult to deal with than the previous class of disturbances, and would take longer to suppress altogether. “In a recent speech,” he continued; “I used the phrase that the military could restore order in Palestine, but they could not bring peace. That task is for the Government arid Parliament, and is a political problem, but it is satisfactory that, so far as the restoration of order is concerned, the activity of the military and police has been to so considerable a degree successful in recent months.”