Evening star., 1937-08-29

LORD STRABOLG1.
n 70 COUNTRY has played =
M greater part in the history OF
" the world than the little area
of land which lies between
the River Jordan and the Mediter-
ranean Sea. Not even Greece or Rome
can claim equal influence. From its
people came the founders of the Chris
tan and Jewish religions. 1t was the
land Of Moses, greatest Of lawgivers
1t is sacred to the 100000, 900 adher-
ents of the Moslem religion; and in
Palestine originated the Jews, in many
respects the worlds most remarkable
race. This Holy Land of three great
religions is still destined to play a
great part in history.
In the Summer of 1917 the British
government, locked in the swaying
struggle Of the Great War promised
to assist the establishment of Ma
tional Home for the Jewish people in
Palestine. In 1920 a mandate for this
specific purpose-with the full ap-
proval Of the American Government
despite the withdrawal of the United
States from the League Of Nations
was granted to Great Britain.
On August 7, 1886. following on one
of the numerous outbreaks of unrest
and bloodshed by the 100000 Arab
! inhabitants, an exceptionally strong
royal commission was appointed by
King Edward VIII to inquire into the
cause Of the trouble.
Council Approval Sought.
On July 8, last. the report of this
commission was published. 1t will be
adopted In principle by the British
| government. In effect it proposes to
throw up the mandate, partition the
| country into three separate states.
the smallest, including Jerusalem and
Bethlehem, to remain under British
government would accept these recon-
mendations in broad outline. It will
invited the Council Of the League Of
Nations to approve
This decision records failure, after
a brief II years, OF British administra-
'AoAA anu spo Will ucdl
with the causes OF that failure. But,
however strong the causes may have
been, 1t must be admitted that this
is the greatest setback to British
prestige since the loss OF the Amer
ican Colonies.
British imperialism has retreated in
other countries, but there was always
the excuse that the task was done.
When We restored sovereignty to Iraq
or Egypt We could claim that We were
there only as trustees until the people
wereoready to govern themselves.
Failed to Anglicize Ireland.
In India we keep the peace be-
tween warning religious sects and de-
clare that 1t Is our motive to help the
Indian people to govern themselves
and to become a Dominion within the
British Empire. True, We have failed
to Anglicize Ireland, except in the
northeastern corner; but our with
draWal there Is the retreat OF con-
querors who found their territory too
tiresome to hold
In the case OF Palestine we were en-
trusted by Europe and America with a
specific task-namely, the fulhlment
OF an ideal held by Jewry all over the
world throughout the centuries. At
first sight it might seem incredible
that We should fail to keep order
among less than million Arabs
where the Ottoman Empire, even in
the period Of its greatest decay, sue
ceeded-especially when world Jewry
had poured in settlers and money in
profusion, and was prepared to send
more of both.
What makes the situation even more
puzzling, until the underlying causes
are understood, Is that students Of
strategy recognize that Palestine is of
the greatest Importance for the defense
Of the British Empire. It Is on the
direct air route to India He who
holds it can dominate the Suez Canal,
the vital link between the Mediterra-
mean and the Indian Ocean. At the
harbor of Haifa is the Mediterranean
end Of the vital supply of oil by pipe
line from Mesopotamia. Why, then,
has Britain accepted this blow to her
prestige. risked the hostility Of world
Jewry without placating the Moslems
and confessed her inability to keep
her pledged word?
Answer in London and Rome.
The answer Is to be found partly in
London's Whitehall and partly in
Rome.
Whitehall is the seat of government
OF the British Empire Here the all
powerful permanent officials have the
f1rst and, usually, the last word in
the direction Of policy. In Whitehall
there was never any real sympathy
Tor or understanding Of Jewish aspira-
tions. All the "permanents" seemed
to know was that there were more
Jews In the City Of New York than
In the whole Of Palestine. They did
not seem to understand the senti-
mental drive for the possession of one
small part of the world in order to give
the Jews a nationality again, and
they apparently forgot that this small
portion Of the world was the scene Of
Jewry's greatest achievements. Nor
was it appreciated how bitter Is the
lot Of those living in the poverty
stricken and overcrowded Jewish quar-
tiers Of Central and Eastern Europe.
What has been appreciated in
Whitehall, however, is the fact that
there are 9o0oo,0o0 Mahometans in
India, supporters the whole-of
British rule against the Hindus; and
that they are responsive to religious
agitators pretending that one Of their
Holy Places Is being handed over to
Jevish "unbelievers"
From tlao start thars3oee, tae great