OUTLOOK IN PALESTINE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1939, Page 8

OUTLOOK IN PALESTINE

ADDRESS TO ROTARY CLUB. "I am of the opinion that the nation which holds power in Palestine during the next ten years will be in a position to dominate the world,” declared Major E. E. Barrows, when addressing today’s luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Ctirt. The question of Palestine, he said, had been a very vexed, one during the past two years and the public mind was in a chaotic state regarding the true state of affairs in the troubled land. He believed that ultimately there would be a settlement of the differences, but it would net be along the lines that had been attempted up to date. After referring to historical aspects of Palestine and to its geographical position, Major Barrows said that such was its strategic position that it had been called Britain’s gateway to the East. By virtue of a conquest which had cost Britain 10,000 dead, Palestine virtually belonged to Britain, but a mandate only had been granted by the League of Nations. Since that mandate and because of the unsatisfied territorial desires of other nations, .Britain’s task had been intensified by vicious : anti-British propaganda. Major Barrows dealt at some length with charges that had been made against Britain and to the troubles caused by land speculation. Whatever might happen in the future he would like to believe that the differences were not unconcilablc. Personally, he did not believe that a solution would come from partition or that anything yet put forward by cither side would prove a solution. There was only one ground for solution and that was on the spiritual side. On the’ motion of Rotarian S. L. P. Free, Major Barrows was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation.