Evening star., 1938-08-28

BrltalnS eagerneSs to enlist all possible
allies to break the power of Turkey in the
Near East. In doing so she sowed a storm
of which she is just now reaping the whirl-
wind, for in her eagerness she failed to
reconcile her promises to the allies she
enlisted. She promised the Arabs inde-
pendence, for which they revolted against
Turkey; she promised the Jews national
home in Palestine, for which they lent
their wealth and influence to the ends of
the war.
Pledge Of Independence.
The pledge of independence for the
Arabs was made through Sir Henry Mac
Mahon, British high commissioner for
Egypt, in correspondence with Sheriff Hus-
sein of Mecca in 1915 but Britain failed
to specify clearly the territory which was
included in the pledge
The letters exchanged between Sir Henry
and the sheriff left a reasonable impression
in the Arab mind, that Palestine was in
cluded within the region to be granted
independence, but when the claims of the
Arab delegation in London were presented
in 1922, based on the promises made by
Sir Henry. Winston Churchill then colonial
secretary. replied that reservations made
by Sir Henry in his correspondence with
Sheriff Hussein excluded Palestine from the
pledge Of independence
Great Britain has never admitted the
Arab claims based on the MacMahon-
Husseln correspondence, but when the Peel
commission made its report last year it
recognized the basis Of the Arab assertions
and concluded that 1T was in the highest
degree unfortunate that. in the exigencies
| OF war. the British government was BILE
to make their intention clear to the sheriff"
The promise to the Jews was more un-
equivocal however, and has been carried
out with determined zeal
Won Cabinet Promise.
Confronted with the necessity Of recruit
| ing every resource for the prosecution of
the war Great Britain saw the prospect of
utilizing the powerful influence of world
Jewry against the Central Powers who also
contained large Jewish elements Russian
anti-Semitism was bar to this before
| 1917, but almost simultaneously with the
second Russian revolution in November.
1917. which swept away any hope of keep
ing Russia in the war, Lord Balfour, who
was then foreign secretary. succeeded with
the help of Dr. Chain Weizmann. leader
Of the Zionist movement in winning the
British wartime cabinet to promising the
Jews a national home in Palestine.
| The famous Balfour declaration of No.
vember 2, 1917. followed, promising the as
1 cIcfo ~
establishing Jewish national home "in"
Palestine. but made it clear that nothing
shall be done which may prejudice the civil
and religious rights of existing nom Jewish
communities there. The Jews regard this
as their charter of independence
Britan's obligation was recognized by the
League of Nations and when the time came
to create the Palestine mandate it was
specified that the mandatory was to place
the country under such political, admin
lstrative and economic Conditions as will
secure the establishment OF the Jewish ma
| tional home d" ."
American approval of the national home
during the war eliminated in 1922 in the
| Lodge-Fish resolution which put Congress
on record in favor of the project in almost
the identical words of the Balfour declara-
ton.
Remarkable Progress
Twenty years OF the mandate and devel-
opment OF the Jewish national home have
brought remarkable progress to Palestine
The immigration of Jews of all classes has
stimulated the arts, literature and music
as we'll as scientific research and aRricul-
tural and industrial Advancement
But the increase primarily by immigra-
tion in the Jewish population from IS, 900
In 1922 to more than 10000 now, has
stirred Arab fears that such a rapid flow
would soon create a Jewish ma jority in
Palestine which would control the state
when independence was later achieved
1t is to prevent by all means this possi-
bility of Jewish dominance that Arab ele-
ments Of all classes. Christian and Moslem
alike. have united against accelerated inn
migration. And it is to preserve the ter
ritorial integrity of their country as it
exists in the hope of eventual freedom
from the mandate that they resolutely re-
sist partition.
What political differences existed among
the Arabs have sunk in a swelling sea of
indignation against Jewish invasion"
Through the Arab High Committee, con-
tanning both Christians and Moslems the
900, 900 Arabs are consolidated into a mill
tant mass opposed to further expansion OF
the Jewish national home
Some are willing to accept an increase in
the proportion of Jews from the present
30 per cent to 40 per cent. but insist the
political ma ajority be retained by the Arabs.
On the side Of the Jews, however there
is less unity, although perhaps 80 per cent
Of the Jews in Palestine support the Zionist
organization, But the Zionists themselves
are disunited on a program Although
their world congress last year accepted par
tition as \ basis for discussion, . large and
articulate element refuses to accept this
| solution
outside of the Zionists a substantial
group Of extreme right-wing Revisionists is
bitterly opposed to any form of modera-
ton, and purposes to carry the ideal OF
the national home to the extreme by de-
msndins that all Palestine be erected into
| q Jewish controlled ,ststa.
Asu,h>rs ~ thA vves,n tpsisf that tva