Reading Raises Palestine Question Following King’s Speech in House of Lords

Admonishing the British government not to “create the impression all over the world that it had played false to the Jews,” the Marquis of Reading raised the Palestine question in the House of Lords yesterday immediately after the reading of the King’s address.

“I am desirous to impress the government that this is not a question merely between the Jews and the Arabs, but a question of British honor,” said the Marquis, in rising to press the Palestine question as the most important problem before the session. “British honor is at stake. It is the government’s duty to clear up any difficulties there may be and to restore its position as far as it can.

“The government must no longer be open to the attack of the critics who

complain that it pledged its word to the Allied nations and to their associated nations during the war, and that when danger passed the government took a different view and really resigned the promises it had given,” he pointed out.

Speaking of Arab and Jewish equality, the Marquis declared, “No one would controvert the statement that the religious liberties of the Arabs must be respected as well as those of any other section of the population. Nevertheless when the government once stated that it pledged itself to establish a Jewish National Home it should not be at liberty in later years to take action which produced the impression among many who were interested all over the world that the government had really played the Jews false.

“I hope,” Reading concluded, “that the government will be given an opportunity in the near future to put a different complexion on the situation.”

The White Paper to which the Marquis of Reading referred was defended by Lord Parmoor, President of the Council, who said, “I feel certain that we made every effort to fulfill the obligation of our national honor both toward the Jews and toward the Arabs.

“It is not an easy question, but I think the allegation that we have not done our best to deal justly with the Jews and Arabs alike has no foundation whatsoever.”