FUTURE OF PALESTINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 7

FUTURE OF PALESTINE

STRANGE LONDON CONFERENCE THE DELEGATIONS ADDRESSED DIVIDED ARAB OPINION COMPLICATES PROCEEDINGS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 7. One of the strangest conferences ever held opened in the picture gallery at St. James’ Palace, wheh Mr. Chamberlain received the Moslem delegates to the Palestine Conference. As the Arabs declined to sit at the same table as the Jews, and vice versa, Mr. Chamberlain later received the Jews in the banqueting room on the opposite side of the Palace. The Prime Minister, who was accompanied by the Foreign Secretary, Lord Halifax, and the Colonial Secretary, Mr. MacDonald, said that there would be freedom in the discussions and that Britain would not offer her views until the Arabs and the Jews had had an opportunity of separately putting their cases. “We arc all specially attached to Palestine,” he said, ‘‘and fervently hope peace and prosperity will soon be restored.” In contrast with the Arabs, who were stately figures in silken robes and white headdresses, wearing ceremonial daggers with jewelled hilts, the Jews, who are headed by Dr. Chaim Wiezmann, wore morning dress or lounge suits. Mr. Chamberlain praised the discipline and restraint shown by the Jewish community during a period of extreme difficulty and danger in Palestine. The presentation of the Arab ease has been postponed owing to the absence of the National Defence Party’s delegates, .who so far are unable to reconcile their differences with the main Palestine Arab delegation. The Government has announced that if an agreement is impossible separate consultations will be held with the National Defence Party.