Evening star., 1926-04-11
BY JOHN l.. BALDERSTON,
Special Correspondent of The Star and North
American Newspaper Alliance.

| Special Correspondent of The Star and North
American Newspaper Alliance.
| JERUSALEM, March est was
fashionable at one time in England
| among opponents of the British man.
date in Palestine to predict imminent
| bloodshed between the dispossessed
native Arabs and the unwarlike Jew
ish immigrants who fioocked in to take
possession of the Jewish National
| Home"
| The best comment on such fears is
to quote three figures. There are ap-
proXimately 615, 900 Moslem Arabs and
104 900 Jews in the country, and there
are 100 soldiers and conStabulary,
only 555 of these British. to keep or
der. They do keep order. The only
Arab-Jew hostilities during the past
| two years that led to bloodShed was a
| quarrel between an Arab and a Jew
over a piece of land. The Arab killed
| the Jew and was duly hanged
Politicians Resent Jews Presence.
Nevertheless, II is true that the Arab
| political leaders resent the presence
of the Jews. and for this reason de
cline TO form part of a governing
council which would enable the British
u grant IL SlIlClIN ulIlIloU nlSdSuTe Ol
government. An election was held
three years ago for a legislative coun-
ell. Ten members were TO be British
and appointed by the high commits
sioner and Il elected. Of them
Moslems, Jews and Christians. The
proportion of representatives to be
elected corresponds roughly to the re-
spective populations. The Arabs re-
fused to vote, the election was a fiasco
and the council was not summoned.
Sir Herbert Samuel the high commits
s!oner, next attempted to appoint 10
Arabs and , Jews. but the leading
Arabs refused to serve. Later, owing
TO the Arab complaints against the
power which was enjoyed by the jew
ish agency in Palestine. Sir Herbert
Samuel offered to form an Arab
agency with the same functions. but
this also was refused. At present,
therefore, the Arabs. although in an
enormous numerical superiority, have
no voice in the government.
1t is, of course. a controversial point
whether Arab opinion is changing.
British officials here believe that 1t is,
that prosperity and peace in Pales-
tine, together with the influx Of much
Jewish capital. is gradually reconcil
ing the native population TO the
blessings these bring in their train.
Arab leaders deny this, and the Arab
press. which is not censored, con-
tinues to demand that if those Jews
who are here cannot be deported. no
more should be allowed to come in.
It is noteworthy. however. that the
agitation of a few years ago against
the British mandate has practically
ceased. Only a small Arab minority
now wishes the British to withdraw.
The spectacle of bloodshed and rapine
in French Syria and throughout
Arabia has enormously increased
British prestige among the native
population here.
Lord BaIfOur's Visit.
When Lord Balfour visited Jerusa.
lem last year there was a general
strike and black flags. of mourning
were hung out by the natives. This
shows the deep feeling still existing,
seven years later. against the terms
Of the so-called Balfour declaration Of
1917 that "his majesty's government
views with favor the establishment
in Palestine of q national home for
the Jewish people" The Arabs be-
lieved this to mean Immediately after
the war that their country was to be
taken from them and given to the
Jews. On several occasions, even up
to two years ago, rumors spread that
on certain fixed dates whole f1otillas
Of ships filled with Jews were to ar
rive and kill or expel the Arab hold
ers of the soil. The Balfour declara-
ton was unfortunately worded, and
the evil effects of that unhappy
phrase. national home" have not
yet disappeared. The British have
made every effort. by official declara-
tions, to counteract the impression
created. and the Zionist organization