BRITAIN’S AIM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 May 1939, Page 7

BRITAIN’S AIM

AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINE WITHIN TEN YEARS ARABS AND JEWS SHARING IN GOVERNMENT. PROPOSALS FOR TRANSITION PERIOD. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m.) RUGBY. May 17. A declaration that Britain’s objective is the establishment, within ten years, of an independent Palestine State, in such 1 realy relations wit h t he United Kingdom as will provide satisfactorily for the commercial and strategic requirements of both countries in the future, is contained in the White Paper on Britain’s policy for Palestine. This proposal would involve consultation with the League of Nations Council with a view to the termination of the mandate. The independent State should be one in which Arabs and Jews would share in the Government in such a way as to ensure that the essential interests of each community were safeguarded. The establishment of the independent State will be preceded by a transitional period throughout which Britain will retain responsibility for the government of the country. During the transitional period, the people of Palestine will be given an increasing part in the government of their country. Both sections of the population will have an opportunity to participate in the machinery of government and the process will be carried on whether or not they both avail themselves of it. As soon as peace and order have been sufficiently restored in Palestine, steps will be taken to carjy out this policy of giving the people of Palestine an increasing part in the government of their country, the objective being peace. A Palestinian will be 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 will be prepared immediately to arrange that Palestinians shall be placed in charge of certain departments, with British advisers.

JEWISH TENSION PREPARATIONS FOR STRONG PROTEST. REGISTER OF BOTH SEXES. (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) JERUSALEM, May 17. Tension is growing among the Jews on the eve of the publication of the White Paper containing the British proposals for Palestine. The Jews have planned to hold 200 protest meetings throughout the country tomorrow, when a complete stoppage, for a whole day, will take place in trade, industry and transport. The Rabbis have ordered the day to be spent in fasting and prayer. The Jewish National Council, beginning tomorrow, will draw up an emergency register of both sexes throughout the country, aged from 18 to 35 years, who are asked to pledge their lives for the Homeland. The British authorities are preparing security measures. The army and police are standing by. The Arabs, on the contrary, are rejoicing. It is expected that many are being released from the concentration camps. It is reported from Damascus that exiles are preparing to return to Palestine.