Evening star., 1933-11-12
Britain Is Concerned
Over Palestine Unrest
BY A. G.. GARDINER.

| LONDON, November lin the midst
| OF its larger disquietudes, the British
government is pnxious about the outlook
in Palestine. The latest Arab risings
there have been not only the most wide
spread but by far the most serious wit
messed since. largely at the inspiration
of the late Lord Balfour, Great Britain
| accepted the mandate for Palestine as
part Of the responsibilities imposed on
it after the Great War
Balfour had been captured by the ro-
mantle appeal Of the Zionist movement
and. though there was some opposition
to England adding to its heavy overseas
burdens, the task was undertaken with
the general approval of the country.
From the economic point of view,
Palestine has undoubtedly benefited
vastly. Since 1919 some $4,000 Jews,
mostly from Russia. Poland and Ru-
mania. have entered the country and
with the backing Of the powerful Jewish
interest all over the world, the life of
the country has been enormously stimu-
lated. Agriculture has been developed
education has been taken seriously in
hand and foreign trade has substan-
TALLY increased. The ports are prosper
Gus and a great scheme of harbor con-
struction Is in progress at Haifa.
But behind all this progress there has
been ceaseless unrest which has now
assumed grave proportions. 1t arises
from fears OF the Arab population that
the Jewish h hinnaigration threatens their
been aggravated by the events in Ger
many, a suspicion prevailing that the
exiles from that country are to find a
home in Palestine and that the Arab
community Is in danger of being
squeezed out.
The fear Of the Arabs, of course, Is
not unnatural. Palestine is a small
country of limited potentialities and
though its capital is the sacred city of
Christians, Jews and Mohammedans
alike, 1t was the Arabs who, under the
Turkish regime, possessed the soil until
Gen: Allenby conquered it for the allies
IN 1918. OF the total population of less
than a million. they are still by far the
greatest element. They number 572-
443 against 154,330 Jews and 8O,225
Christians.
1t has been a difficult task for the
British government to hold the balance
between the established claims of the
Arabs and the returning Jews, and there
have been frequent incidents of a violent
character. Hitherto they have had a
religious motive and have chiefly CEN
tered IN conflicting rights of Arab and
Jew at the Wailing Wall of Haram Al
Shar1f at Jerusalem. This source of dis |
cord has been removed. the government |
havmg induced the League of Nations |
10 oenne and determine the respective |
rights and claims.
X X X
The present trouble is more serious. |
1t has taken the form not SO much of |
attacks on the Jews as of a violent |
demonstration against the government |
Tor favortng the Jews and admitting an |
lnoue influx OF them into the country.
from Jaffa the rioting spread to other |
places ana assumed the character of a
national uprising The demonstrators !
came into conflict with the police and
, number were killed, including some
British members of the force.
Inc irony OF the situation is that
Nnlle the Arabs are waging war against
me government on the score of Jewish
immigration, the Jews are complaining
bitterly that immigration is not being
oermltted to anything like the extent
hat Is justified by the condition of the
country. Meanwhile, it is claimed by
he Jews that Palestine is more flourish
ng than most countries, that it has
positive shortage OF labor and that Us
prosperity Is due to the expenditure of
Jewish funds which have stimulated in
iustrial activity and admittedly bene-
tied the rank and file of the Arabs.
The Arab leaders, on the other hand,
eem to have been excited by fears of |
tidal wave of immigration which not
,nly does not exist, but for which, in
ne extremely cautious mood of the
there Is not the least pros /
,ect.
Under the firm attitude of the govern [
nent In dealing with the outbreak, the :
citation has quieted but the root of |
he trouble remains. For the Arab fear. |
4 the Jew is not merely the fear of !
lis number. 1t Is fear of the intellectual /
uperiority which is destined to make
he Jew to an increasing extent the
omlnants element in the state It is
his fact, think, more than the ratio ,
{ immigration which explains the re-
eminent Of the Arabs and makes the
ask of the British in Palestine one Of !
ytreme and yremediabIe difficulty.
(CouvffQhf 1D33l