“STRANGEST CONFERENCE”

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20727, 10 February 1939, Page 4

“STRANGEST CONFERENCE”

Continued violence in Palestine is not a good augury for the success of the conference among the Arabs, Jews and British now proceeding in London. Perhaps the least sinister interpretation of the latest outbreaks is that they were intended to strengthen the position of the delegates at the conference. Since the aim of the conference is to secure peace on a basis of justice to all parties, however, a campaign of murder and violence in the disputed territory will scarcely assist the main object. Some indication of the difficulties faced is contained in the fact that the delegations are not even agreeable to meet face to face, while the presentation of the Arab case has been delayed because the Arab National Defence Committee has not agreed on the personnel of its delegation. Mr Chamberlain’s addresses to the separate branches of the conference were extremely conciliatory and contained an earnest appeal for a just settlement. While the delegates’ replies were very friendly toward Britain, they contained no sign of a spirit of give and take or a desire for fraternal settlement as between Arab and Jew. It is obvious that there is still much ground to be covered before an amicable settlement can be reached, and there is justification for the description given in the cables to “one of the strangest conferences ever held.” Jews demand the right to live in peace in Palestine; Arabs intensely resent the invasion by a hated race. Peaceful settlement of the problem is of tremendous importance to Britain politically and strategically. Britain has left both parties completely free to propose terms of settlement, but if no agreement is forthcoming, Britain has indicated that she has a scheme to bring forward. It is not unlikely that the unknown terms of that scheme will yet provide the major interest at the conference.