New-York tribune., 1922-03-05


rnent at present being carried on
under the direction Of Sir Herbert
Samuel, the High Commissioner. Great
Britain has the duty Of giving effect te
the mandate conferred upon her BY the
League Of Nations FOR the general at
ninistration' Of Palestine and of pro-
viding for the establishment there of
e national home for the Jewish people
IN accordance with what is known as
the BAlfour declaration
She has at the Same time to con.
slider the necessity of reconciline
under the new regime the conflicting
aspirations Of the Arab people of Pal
estine and the Zionist community, to
whom the undertaking embodied in the
Balfour declaration was given. The
task of the Colonial Ofice has been to
devise form Of constitution which
fulflls British engagements, provides
all possible safeguards for the Chris
tian, Jewish ana Moslem communities
against injustice and lays a political
foundation upon which, in course Of
time. system of representative gov.
ernment may be established.
It has proved much more com.
piicased affair than was imagined
when Arthur James Balfour checred
the souls of the Zionists with his
famous declaration. The native Arabs,
who form the overwhelming majority
of the population-there is at present
only small percentage Of HAbrsws--
co not At all relish the prospect Of
their land becoming the proposed
Jewish national home. They point
10 the promises made to King Hussein,
and ask Why what was good enough
for Mesopotamia and Syria is not good
enough for them.
Both the Arabs and the Jews have
received the draft document, and their
views upon it will be heard before the
constitution is put into final form. The
Zionist organization here, so far as it
has yet had an opportunity of consid-
ering the draft, regards it as fair. The
members of the Arab delegation in
London have not yet formulated their
criticism of the draft, but it Is clear
that they are by no means enthusiastic
about it. The British government will
find it difficult, if not impossible, to
give satisfaction all around. It may
be expected that it will go forward
with the constitution as drafted rs q
basis for settlement in the troubled
situation now existing, which already
has led to some riots in Jerusalem.
Government Plan Conforms
To Crown Colony Pattern
The plan for the government Of Pal
estine conforms, generally speaking, to
the pattern OF crown colony govern
ment as practiced by British admins
sration elsewhere. 1t has important
variations, however, due to the fact
that Palestine is not strictly British,
but inundated territory, for the con-
troll Of which Britain is responsible 10
the League of Nations, and to the fact
that it is intended ss preliminary to
the development Of fully representa-
tive government as soon as this is pos
sible.
Recognition both of the mandate and
OF the Balfour declaration is embodied
IN the first clause of the constitution.
which provides for the appointment Of
"fit person to administer the govern
nens Of Palestine" under the designa-
tion Of high commissioner and com
naander in chief. 1t eonfers the TOW.
ers necessary to the execution Of the
duties normally associated with such
an office. "and fer giving effect to the
provisions Of the mandate accented bs
Great Britain at the request Of the
principal Allied powers for the General
administration of the country and the
establishment Of national home 70,
the Jewish people"
In the exercise Of his powers the
high commissioner is to be assisted by
an executive council. From date to
be axed by the high commissioner in
executive council there is to be con
stituted legislative council, which is
10 replace any advisory council then
existing. The legislative council will
have power to Establish such ordi-
xanees as my be necessary for the
peace, order and good government OF
Palestine" subject to limitations safe
guarding freedom Of conscience and
worship. and to the right Of the high
commissioner to refuse his assent to
any ordinance or reserve it fot the
approysl of the Imperial government.
It 10 in the method OF constituting
tais legislative council that the scheme
departs from ordinary practice. OF it's
twenty-five members, ter. are to Be Of.
fetal and fifteen unofficial; in this ar
rahgenieht there is nothing unusual.
But Of the fifteen unofficial members.
three are TO be nominated In such a
"ray as to secure that one shall be g
ldoslen, one q Jew and one q Chris
tisn; while the remaining twelve afe
70 be chosen by method ef primary
and secondary election aimed at re-
fiecting the voting strength Of the
three communities.
Of the three nominated members one
is to be nominated by the Associated
IL q