Evening star., 1938-12-18

LONDON.-Britain' prestige as an i'm
perial power will be at stake in Christ
mas Peace Conference" with Jews and
Arabs to end the war in Palestine.
, Since the first Christmas the Jews
have fought against the Roman and Ot-
toman empires for their home in the
Holy Land Twentyone years ago Brit
ain promised to try to establish that
home.
But Britain did not consult the Arabs
before making that promise, and the
Arabs say Britain had already promised
the Holy Land to them.
So Jew and Arab have fought for over
20 years; more than 1,400 have been
killed in the last five months, and the
Forthcoming conference is BritainS an
swer to the worldwide charge that she
has failed to formulate any successful
policy in Palestine.
Before the conference ever starts, Brit
ain is virtually forced into a policy of
compromise, and it is precisely the policy
of compromise that has led to charges of
British weakness.
Churchill Accuses Government.
II accuse his majestys government" +"
Says eloquent Winston Churchill, "of
having been incapable of forming
Palestine.
Our ministers are suffering from a
decreptitude of the will power
The case is urgent, but all they have been
able to do in three whole years of classic
tncapacity is to palter and maunder and
jibber on the bench"
Nevertheless, these ministers are faced
with one of the most complicated prob
lens in recent history. Palestine alone
is not at stake. Everywhere, the Holy
Land touches world issues.
If, in this coming conference Britain
opens the gates of Palestine to the horde
of refugees driven from Germany, she
will antagonize the whole Moslem world
and stir up the restless Moslem popula-
ton of British India
If, on the other hand, Britain. as the
mandatory power, severely restricts Jew
ish immigration, she must face the fury
OF world Jewry and the displeasure Of
world opinion sympathetic toward the
fate of the German Jews.
Other Important Factors.
Two other factors must be considered: :
First, the Arabs have been supported
and even melted to rebellion by German
and italian propaganda.
Secondly, Britain must not forget that
Palestine controls the outlet for much
of Britain's oil supply and is strategically
fNy flo Iof1 IS
Canal.
These reasons dictate a compromise,
and Britain has warned both factions
that unless they reach an agreement
within a reasonable time" Britain will
force plan of its own.
The basis of modern Jewish history in
Palestine is the Balfour declaration,
which stated:
His majestys government view with
favor the establishment in Palestine of
a national home for the Jewish people
and will use their best endeavors to fa-
ciliate the achievement of that OBJ
1ect ="
This declaration is bitterly condemned
by the Arabs, who:
l. Contend that in 1915, two years be-
fore the Balfour declaration was made,
Sir Arthur Henry Mcmahon, first high
commissioner for Egypt, included Pales-
tine in the region in which Arab inde-
pendence was to be recognized by Brit
ain. britain has repeatedly disclaimed
any such promise.)
2. Want self-government and fear that
the establishment of the Jewish National
Home will defeat this ambition.
3. Fear economic and political domi-
nation by the Jews
In spite of these three main Arab OBJ
jections, 250000 Jews have immigrated
to Palestine and performed a modern
miracle.