The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-09
EQUALITY OF ALL IN PALESTINE ID <. <. BE ENGLISH CREED
Test Vote in House of Com mons Shows Majority Fa- vor Equal Opportunity in
 Palestine
By 4. G. GARDINER,


 Special Cable Dispatch to The Herald
 Copyright 1s2s, by The Age-Herald
 London, July S.-Great Britain's policy of equal opportunity for all creeds in Palestine will prevail. The action of the House of Commons in crushing the opposition to the Ruten- burg concessions dismisses the like lihood that there will be any serious departure from the present plans. 3 The formidable attack in the Lords and the Commons upon Zionism has ended in a fiasco.
 During the war Balfour committed England to the undertaking that the Jewish return to Palestine would be |, ifs policy when hostilities ended. In accordance with that promise, Eng land, in assuming the Palestine mandate, adopted a scheme to pro- mote that end. The object was not to establish Jewish state. That was ffnpossible in view of the predom- nance of the Aram population and also because of the fact that Palestine contains the holy place of three com peting religious, Christian, Jewish and Mohammedan. In the circum- stances the mandatory power was aimed, not at giving Jews prefer ence. but in establishing 8 just state, where Jews. equally with Arabs and Christians, would find secure home.
 The first governor was Q. distin- guished Jewish statesman, Herbert Samuels, man of the highest l ok rtn bn office with conspicuous wisdom and justice.
 taa Anti-semitism Abroad
 There has been q strong under cur rent of opposition in England; of anti-semitism abroad and of anti British influence among certain Catholic powers. It was alleged that during the war the allies promised the Arabs self government. This was only conditional on their support of the allies and the Palestine Arabs did not support their cause. On the other hand, the undertaking to Jews was absolutely specific. The fulfill ment has not injured the Arabs. It has given them equal rights with Jews and Christians. It has been al- legged however, that the Samuels ad- ministration favored the Jews In re- gard to concessions and land policies. There Is no evidence that this criti- cism Is justified.
 The assault focused on 6 conces- sion to M. Rutenburg. a Russian Jew, to develop electricity through the water resources of Palestine. The fact that he is a Jew was seized upon with great indignation. The fact that he was a Russian Jew was shocking. Then came a furious at- tack in the House of Lords. Efforts were made to overthrow the conces- sion and every vulgar prejudice was exploited. The fight was transferred to the House of Commons and there the, anti-Zionists met their water loc Proposal Ccrutinized
 Replying to the attack. Winston Churchill showed that the colonial office had closely scrutinized the proposal. Under it the Palestine gov ernnent controlled prices and limited profits. Rutenburg, himself, Is a man of egenuis and high character. No one uenie. the necessity for the develop ment of the water power of Pales- tine. No one thinks the Arabs are capable of such development. They reap the advantage with the rest from the enterprise. It was suggest ed that Jew should not have been favored with the concession and that the business should belong to Eng land. Sucn a selfish suggestion de- Stroyed the honda fides of the case and the temper of Parliment showed little sympathy with the anti semitic spirit. This is remarkable in a house so reactionary as the pres ent. The division was almost sensa- tional in it's emphsis. only 35 sup porting the attack with 292 favor ing the government. The result was} the most crushing of defeats for the anti-Zionist movement.
 Arabs Not Grieved There is no doubt mistakes have been made under the mandate but 1t Is clear that the Arabs have no real grievance unless equality of treaty be grievance. On the con trary they stand to benefit from the development of the country and the social order introducted. So far as the Jews are concerned their claims to national rights in Palestine Is in- disputable. The experience of the new regime on the whole has been entirely gratifying and the view ' strongly is heard in England that a ! national home for the Jews will tend i. ultimately to lessen the grounds for hostility now widespread. t Palestine itself cannot fall to pros- per under an administration which for the first time provides security i of life and equal laws under a capa- ble, enterprising government Any attempt to upset the system would be crime. not only against the Jews, but against Palestine and the best interests of the whole world.