Evening star., 1939-05-21

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struck a balance by assuring the Jews
that within the next five years they may
send $4,000 to Palestine, and in addition
$4,000 refugees, with special considera-
tion to children and dependents. This
it is estimated, with natural population
growth will bring the Jews to one third
OF the population of Palestine, where it
would be frozen, further immigration be-
ing only with consent of the Arabs
Jews now number about $50, ,OOO Arabs
about 100000
immigration is the essence of whether
the Jews are permitted to make Palestine
their national home or merely have
national home in Palestine With un-
limited immigration it is conceivable
that within few years, under the pres
sure of some European governments to
eject Jewish populations, Jewish ma
! jority could readily be created. The
British limitation on immigration in
definitely postpones the attainment of
any such goal.
Absorptive Capacity Is Measure
The League of Nations mandate re-
| quires Great Britain to facilitate immi-
| grafton, but the British government has
taken this to mean up to the absorptive
capacity of the country, which is ex-
eremely difficult to determine. Absorp-
| tive capacity might be low for agricul-
tural immigrants, but high for industrial
workers.
Aggravating the entire problem, and
unforeseen by the League Of Nations at
| the time of making the mandate, is the
forced emigration of Jews from Ger
many, Italy, Hungary and other Eastern
European countries. If it were not for
the plight of homeless thousands of
| Jews. resistance to the immigration re-
| Striction would be far less for ZioniSm
which is the vehicle of Jewish return to
Palestine, has never contended that Pal
| eStine should contain all the worlds
Jews. or anything like a majority of
| them, within its borders. But the i'm
| petus that Herr Hitler and Signor Mus
Solini have lent to anti-Jewish move
ments in.Europe has created the vital
problem for Jewry-where are these
| people to go? They turn first to Pales-
| tine as a natural refuge.
The dynamite of the British plan is
packed in this question of immigration.
| for unrestricted entry is cardinal point
| of the program of the more radical and
extremist Jews-the Revisionists. In
sense, the British have played into the
hands Of this group, and may expect new
| outbreaks of terrorism from this side of
the Zionist movement, for many Pales-
| tine Jews, dissatisfied with more moder-
ate leadership, are ready recruits for
extremist leadership.
Question of Land Also.
Linked with the immigration problem
is the land question because if the Jews
wish to have their own state two pre-
requisites are population and territorial
base for that population Sales of Arab
lands to Jews have hitherto been un-
restricted but now the British high
commissioner in Palestine will have
power to forbid land transfers from
Arabs to Jews wherever it is considered
necessary to do So. The fear is that
ultimately landless Arab population
might be created, depending on British
and Jewish charity.
One way to get control of country is
to buy it up, and the Jews have striven
to extend their land holdings throughout
the arabic area of Palestine. But hence
forth the Arabs will be forced to retain
certain portion Of their land as
means for their own support.
On the whole the British plan to re-
constitute Palestine, although it falls far
short of Zionist aspirations and even of
Arab desires, comes as near to COM
promise as England probably could come
considering imperial needs and obliga-
tions, along with promises to both Jews
and Arabs.
The accusation that Britain is playing
power politics in Palestine, applying
Prime Minister Chamberlains doctrine
of appeasement to the Arabs as he has
applied it to the Germans and the
italians, is probably justified, but it is
by no means clear that it could do other
wise.
Inc rlgnL OF Lne Jews 10 naGlOnal
home in Palestine is being protected at
the same time that the Arabs are assured
preservation of their present numeri-
cal supremacy, The two are not incom-
patible and can be reconciled by mutual
desire for peace and cooperation. With
| cut that desire Palestine would be
doomed to prolonged disturbance under
J any plan Whatever.