Arab Executive Postpones Action on British Plan, Press Divided on Arab Policy

While the Arab Executive has been deliberately postponing taking action on the British government’s statement of policy, evidently waiting to see what Britain will do about the storm of protest raised by the Jews and the friends of the Balfour Declaration, a cable from Jamal Husseini, one of the Executive’s secretaries who is now in London, warns the Arab leaders that the protests of the Jews may result in modification of the British policy unless the Arabs show their hand.

Not only has the Arab Executive delayed action but the Arab press is badly divided on what tactics should be used. Aljamea Al Arabia, organ of the Grand Mufti’s faction, is bitter at the silence of the Arabs while the Al Hayat remarks that “Allah sides with those who wait.”

The Arab Executive has carefully concealed the proceedings of its two sessions this week but it is generally known that it has not yet arrived at any decision, a majority of the members desiring to wait to see not only what the government and Jews contemplate but what the Mufti’s faction plans. Most of the members of the Arab Executive are disposed to follow an opposite course to whatever the Mufti and his followers do.

Reports of the Mufti’s waning influence appear to be confirmed by the refusal of the government to appoint one of his followers to a vacancy on the Moslem Supreme Council. The Mufti, it is understood, has appealed to the Colonial Office against High Commissioner Chancellor’s appointment.