Evening star., 1938-07-08
Behind Palestine Strife
1rreconcilable Ambitions of Jews and
Arabs Are Cause of Struggle.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Strife between Jews and Arabs in
Palestine has fed for more than 20
years on their seemingly irreconcil.
able ambitions
The Arabs are fighting for national
status, independence. The Jews are
attempting to realize their ancient
dream Of establishing national home
for their people in the Promised Land.
Great Britain, administrator Of \
League OF Nations mandate over Pal
estine, Is confronted by host Of deli
cate problems.
Committed to Jewish Heme.
She Is fatty committed by both
the Balfour declaration OF 1917 and
the mandate to place the country "un-
der such political, administrative and
economic conditions as will secure the
establishment Of the Jewish national
home" in the Holy Land.
But Great Britain Is committed
equally to fostering 'the development
Of f-governing institutions and also
for safeguarding the civil and re-
ligious rights of all inhabitants Of
Palestine, Irrespective Of race and re-
hgton."
Both are of great importance, Jews
see one pledge "A the promise of full.
fillment Of 1000 years Of yearning
Arabs, seeing the mandates over the
Arab states of Iraq and Syria ter.
minated and independence granted
them. demand freedom for Palestine.
The population Of Palestine ex-
panded from 752,O4S to 1.336,5lS be-
tween 1922 and 1896. While the nom
Jewish gain was slightly greater than
the Jewish, 2S7,777 to 2s6, 6,e93, Arabs
point out that the proportion Of Jews
in the total population has increased
from IL per cent to 20 per cent.
They fear the tide Of Jewish immi-
grafton may delay the emancipation
Of Palestine indefinitely and when it
ultimately Is gained the country will
be Jewish rather than An Arab state.
Partition Proposed Year Age.
A British Royal Commission on Pal
estine proposed just year ago yester-
day that the land be divided into three
parts-a Jewish state. an Arab state
and q British-mandateda area.
Neither Jews nor Arabs were salts
ned. Arabs were ansrily opposed and
Jews reserved decision until the plan
Is in definite form. Another British
commission now Is investigating
whether the tri-state partition can be
made effective.
The problem Of Palestine 10 delicate
for Britain because Of the Holy Lands
position at the crossroads Of East and
West. 1t is key to the defense of
the Sues Canal. Haifa h the termi-
nus Of the oil pipeline from Iraq.
Palestine IA major stop on Britain's
empire airline to the Far East, the
western terminus of the motor high
way to Baghdad and = stepping stone
for railways connecting Egypt with
Europe by way Of Syria and Turkey.
From the Dead Sea enormous
quantities Of potash can be reclaimed
for the manufacture Of munitions in
sritain's vast rearmament program.
Terror Nothing New.
Reigns OF terror are nothing new.
Racial violence has been going on
ever since the British started to build
the home under the League Of Nations
mandate. 1t has even invaded
Jerusalem, holy city of three great
religions-Christianity, Judaism and
Mohammedanism.
In the last two years alone the
casualty list has run into uncounted
thousands-the dead, apart from those
injured, being set at 2.000-and the
property loss is high up the ladder
Of millions. Often death creeps about