Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-20
BR|TON DEFENDS
PALESTINE POLICY
Obligations to Jews There
Will Be Fulfilled, Says
Harry Smell.

Assurance that Great Britain will
faithfully carry out her obligations I'M
der the mandate" calling for the eStab-
lishment of a Jewish national home in
Palestine was given in an address by
Harry Smell member OF the British
Parliament, in an address at BAN
quet of the American Jewish Congress
In the Willard Hotel last night.
Mr.. Smell came to this country upon
special invitation of the Jewish Con-
rress. Last night he declared the
Jewish claim to racial preservation Is
"incontestable" and asserted that the
Jews of the world have no need to
worry over the situation in Palestine,
but urged them to be patient regarding
developments there. The diSappolnt-
ments of the past 10 years are small in
comparison with the results achieved,
he added.
Quoting from the Bible. Mr.. Smell
brought out that there is yet much
work to be done in Palestine before the
plight of the Jews there will be ideal.
"And meanwhile, let the pioneers IN
Palestine also take courage, Tor the
wilderness and the solitary place shall
be glad for them; and the desert shall
rejoice and blossom as the rose, the
speaker declared.
Mr.. Smell began his address by de-
claring II am not as you know, Jew.
and / have no Jewish af11liatonS;
am not attached to any Christian
church. and look upon the conflicting
creedS and Sects in Palestine and else
where with equal respect. My position
here tonight is that OF British inter-
nationalist with deep love OF and
belief in my own country"
Reviewing the general situation in
Palestine Mr. Smell said:
"Great Britain went to Palestine as
an accident of the war and purely for
military purposes. The Arab peoples,
even as did the Jewish Legion, gave
valuable support to the allied forces,
demanding as the price for their help
vast territories in Asia which were
specifically defined. It is on the basis
Of the negoSaA ions that then took place
that the Arab makes his claim for an
Arab state in Palestine. His majesty's
government has never admitted the
Justice of this claim and maintains
that it has fulfilled its bargain to the
letter"
Referring to the history of the
mandate, Mr.. Smell declared: "The
mandate was approved by a resolution
of the American Congress and Senate
in June, 1922, although the United
States were not members of The Hague
conference. 1t will be seen, therefore.
that Great Britain Is not in Palestine
merely as the result of military con-
quest of Turkish territory: she has be-
hind her greater authority than any
previous trust in the history of the
world.
UNFORTUNATELY for Great Britain, the
terms of the mandate are such as i'm
pose upon her obligations of which the
completely Is undeniable. She is re-
quired TO place the country under such
political, administrative and economic
conditions as will secure the establish
ment of the Jewish National Home
but she Is also bound TO safeguard the
civil and religious rights of all the in
habitants of Palestine, irrespective of
race or religion She Is to facilitate
Jewish immigratioa under suitable con-
ditions' while ensuring that the
rights and position of other sections
Of the population are not prejudiced.'
After reviewing the many difficulties
that have come up in reference to the
mandate and establishing Jews in
Palestine, Mr. Smell expressed the view
that the Jews and Arabs themselves will
have to strive to establish peace be-
tween the two peoples. II have now
reached the point in my study of the
racial problem In Palestine when ] can
see no way out of the present trouble
other than that peace should be made
between the peoples themselves" he
added.
The banquet was also addressed by
Mrs. Archibald Silverman, vice presi-
dent of the congress, and by Israel N.
Thurman, member of the AdminiStra-
tive Committee of the congress. Ber-
nard s. Deutsch, president OF the con-
gress, presided