NO ENTHUSIASM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 May 1939, Page 6

NO ENTHUSIASM

FOR NEW BRITISH POLICY IN PALESTINE PRESS COMMENTS MR MACDONALD’S DEFENCE. REMOVAL OF UNCERTAINTY ESSENTIAL. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 18. The Palestine White Paper is received without enthusiasm by the Press, which, however, recognises that in existing circumstances no solution is possible. The Secretary for the; Colonies (Mr Malcolm MacDonald) in the House of Commons said: —“The protests which have occurred in Palestine in connection with the White Paper were fully foreseen by Britain. The paper contained the remark: ‘The Government cannot hope to satisfy the partisans of one party or the other in such a controversy as the mandate has aroused.’ ” In these circumstances, and in view of the recent improvement in conditions in Palestine in respect to law and order, Mr MacDonald added, it would have been easier for the Government to leave the questions in suspense. The Government was convinced, however, that only by the removal of the uncertainty which had contributed in the past to unrest, could a situation be created which might lead to a recognition by all the parties and factions concerned of their common responsibility to co-operate together, and with the Mandatory, to bring back peace to the country and make possible the constructive effort upon which the happiness and prosperity of both the great peoples of Palestine depended. BOTH SIDES PROTEST ARABS SEEK ASSURANCE. CREATION OF INDEPENDENT STATE. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) .LONDON, May 18. Dr Weizmann said the Palestine plan was unacceptable and would break down under its sheer weight of injustice. He added that the Jews would carry on although British assistance was withdrawn. Members of the Parliamentary Arab Committee are seeking an assurance from the Government that the creation of an independent State will not be delayed indefinitely as a result of the non-co-operation of the Jewish minority. NEGOTIATIONS END ALL ARAB COUNTRIES OPPOSED TO PLAN. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) CAIRO, May 18. The Premier has issued a statement that all Arab countries are. opposed to the Palestine plan. He added that negotiations with Britain had ended. NIGHT OF RIOT JEWS STONE POLICE FROM HOUSETOPS. NUMBER OF CASUALTIES'. (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) JERUSALEM. May 18. As the night wore on, three thousand youths reassemoled at the Commissioner’s offices and tried to break in. They tore down a signboard and attempted to haul down the Union Jack. The police made a baton charge in which ninety-five Jews received injuries and were sent to hospital and two constables were injured. The, mob stoned and seriously injured an official of the Czechoslovakian Consulate, who drove his car through a police barricade, knocking down a constable. Similar demonstrations, in which forty persons were injured, occurred at Tel Aviv. ' ' Jews demonstrating in’ Zion Square broke street lamps and shop windows and stoned the police‘from the housetops. They also attacked the police with machine-guns, seriously wounding one policeman and slightly injuring six. The total casualties are at least twelve police and a hundred Jews injured. HOSTILE MOTIONS NOTICE k GIVEN IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. (Received This Day,. 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 18. Fifteen members of the Government party have tabled a motion of disapproval of the White Paper until it has been submitted to the Permanent Mandates Commission.

Labour members have tabled an amendment on similar lines.