ARABS’ RIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 38, 15 February 1939, Page 7

ARABS’ RIGHT

RULE IN PALESTINE CONSEQUENCES OF REFUSAL DESPERATE STRUGGLE WITH BRITAIN PROMISE MADE TO JEWS [By Telegraph—Pres. Association—Copyright; WINNIPEG, Feb. 13. Unless the Arabs’ right to govern Palestine is recognised, the whole Arab world will be forced into a desperate struggle with Britain, stated Puad Chalil Mufarri Damascus, secretary to the Arab National Bureau here, in an address before the Institute of International Affairs. Such a struggle would be unfortunate for Britain if London desires to preserve her interest in the Suez Canal and the air route to India. The Arabs would prefer a British tie if based on justice, but will not permit it to be used for subjection and colonisation. Britain had no right to promise the Jews part of Palestine.

JEWISH CAUSE PLEADED

LONDON CONFERENCE RESUMED. Received Feb. 14, 6.10 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 13. The Arab conference was resumed, this morning, and this afternoon discussions between the Jewish delegation and British Government representatives were being resumed. Dr. Weizmann, leader of the Jewish delegation, in pleading for the homeless and the helplessness of the Jews, informed the Palestine conference that Arabs and Jews could meet beneficially only on the basis of a fullyperformed mandate, also Jewish immigration to saturation point would result in the active development of the land and the safeguarding of minority status. Dr. Weizmann regretted that the conference had

opened before the restoration of la' and order in Palestine.

HISTORIC FACTS STATED

l British Official Wireless. j Received Feb. 14, 8.30 p.m. RUGBY, 4 eb. 13. In the statement of the Jewish ease he made at the meeting between the British and Jewish delega.ion, Dr. Weizmann said that at the root of the Jewish problem lay tne hopelessness of the Jewish people. Everywhere in a minority, ana in many countries helpless and at the mercy of others, they had preserved their identity because of their attachment to Palestine and of their hope of a return to Zion. The claim to Palestine had never been abandoned. The Jewish community there had never ceased to exist, in every age a group ol Jews had worked their way to Palestine, and lor the last 60 years active re-settlement had been going on. The Balfour Declaration recognised these historic facts and in the preamble to the mandate international recognition was given to the historical connection ot the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds lor reconstituting their national home in that country, it was essential that there should be one place in the world where the Jews should not be a fraction, appendix or adjunct to something else —where they should be themseives, masters ot their own destinies. Dr. Weizmann criticised the aban-

ionment of the project for a Jewish State envisaged in the Peel Report, while mentioning the objections ol the Jews to many features of the scheme. He argued that the Arabs hac emerged from the war with four kingdoms and insofar as the Balfour Declaration had contributed to the victory for the Allies it had also contributed to the liberation of the A.rabs. He thought it was not irrelevant to compare what the Arabs had made of the extraordinary opportunities which had come to them with very little trouble and what the Jews had made of the chances vouchsafed to them. The Arab claim that. Palestine was an Arab country and should have ar Arab national Government was noi capable of realisation. The Jews already formed a third of the population and were responsible for twothirds or more of the economic am

cultural activity of Palestine. The Arabs professed a fear of Jewish domination but the Jews did not want to dominate the Arabs but would not allow themselves to be dominated by ; them. He believed sincerely that the ' Jews and Arabs could find a meeting ' ground beneficial to both, but this i could only be on the basis of a man- , date implemented in the spirit and ‘ letter, including the largest total of ! Jewish immigration in accordance ' with the economic capacity principle, ( an active policy of development and I effective safeguards against minority ■ status.