BREAKDOWN INDICATED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 45, 23 February 1939, Page 7

BREAKDOWN INDICATED

PALESTINE TALKS ARAB UNITED FRONT DEMAND FOR INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGN STATUS [By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright] LONDON, Feb. 21. The News-Chronicle says that indications are for a breakuown of the Palestine talks. It is practically inevitable that the Government will dismiss the delegates shortly and impose its own plan. The situation approached a climax last night when a spokesman for Egypt, Irak, Saudi-Arabia, TransJordan and the Yemen submitted a unanimous memorandum announcing a united front with the Palestine Arabs. It is stated that the remainder of the Arab world aovised the Palestine Arabs to accept nothing less than independent sovereign status. The memorandum is being submitted to Mr. Chamberlain. The British and Jcwisa delegates also reached a stalemate and the talks were adjourned indefinitely. The Jews rejected suggestions for the restriction of immigration and land sales, maintaining that this would mean permanent minority status. They demanded immigration of an equal economic absorptive capacity. The News-Chronicle adds that some observers find that the Government made a tactical error in inviting the Arabs to the conference, thereby uniting them, instead of seeking the services of a mediator.

ARABS REINFORCED

FURTHER DELEGATES ARRIVE 1 British Official Wtrcloea. J RUGBY, Feb. 21. The Egyptian delegation to the Palestine conference submitted to-day a joint memorandum on behalf of the Arab States in which, it is understood, they defined their position relative to the claim of the Palestine Arab delegation in favour of independence for an Arab Palestine State. The Palestine Arab delegation was strengthened by the arrival from Alexandria of the second representative of the National Defence Party, Yaqub Effendi Farraj. The Colonial Secretary (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald) is believed to have stated Britain’s views on the question of Jewish immigration. The Palestine Arabs put. in a closely-reasoned reply, rejecting the arguments of the British delegation and advocating, it is understood, cessation of Jewish immigration. The discussions with the Arabs were adjourned until Wednesday, when Jewish immigration will again be discussed, as well as the question of sales of land to Jews. To-night immigration was under discussion between the British and Jewish delegations. Seyyid Tauliq Essuwaidi has arrived from Bagdad. It is understood that Nuri Said, who will later hand over the representation of Irak to Essuwaidi, will remain in London until February 27.