TRANSJORDANIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1939, Page 5

TRANSJORDANIA

INCREASED POWERS GIYEN TO EMIR FURTHER ADVANCE TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE. CONTRAST TO CONDITIONS IN PALESTINE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 3. Discussing the latest step toward self-government, which results from the agreement reached in London in negotiations with the Chief Minister of Transjordania while the Palestine Conference was at work, "The Times’s” Jerusalem correspondent says it has been warmly welcomed in Transjordania as a sign of confidence reposed in the Emir by Britain and as proof of the soundness of the foundation laid by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Cox. who is about to retire after 15 years’ service as British Resident. His successor, Mr A. S. Kirkcaldie. has already entered upon his new duties. In future the Emir, instead of having an Executive Council with advisory powers, will exercise authority throlgh a council of heads of departments, which will be responsible to himself. Legislative power is vested in a' council of 16 members elected by universal manhood suffrage, nine of them being Moslem Arabs, three Christian Arabs, two Circassians and two and the Chief Minister and heads of departments.

In a leading article. “The Times” says: “Much has been heard of the through a council of heads of departthree years, but little of the peace and order which its neighbour has enjoyed despite the conflicts at its doors. The agreement denotes a further advance towards independent status, and it should strengthen the Emir against the intrigues in which the ex-Mufti and other Arab politicians are believed to have been concerned.”

In the past Transjordania has been governed by Britain under the same mandate as Palestine.