Donying statements that establishment of the council would lead to friction and discord, Lord Plymouth declared it would serve as an alternative to violent propaganda and public demonstrations.
He attacked the proposal for a Royal investigation commission, warning that it would be regarded by the Arabs as an excuse by England to “break its pledge.” He added that the hoped the Jewish people would take a place in the council and cooperate in the work for reform.
After Lord Plymouth’s address, Baron Snell, Laborite, withdrew a motion he had made in opening the debate that the Government reconsider the council project. In offering the motion, Oord Snell asserted that Palestine was unfit for and did not desire central self-government at present.
He urged a ten-year program for the development of local self-governing institutions in Palestine.
Lord Lytton, noted colonial administrator, paying tribute to the High Commissioner, whose insistence, he stated, was responsible for the project, criticized it as a “very dangerous proposal.” He advocated the sending of a Royal commission to the Holy Land.
“These proposals fill me with great alarm,” asserted Lord Lothian. He Characterized the council proposal as “a dangerous experiment which should not be proceeded with until a reasonable community of feeling is established between Arabs and Jews.”
Quoting the Balfour Declaration, in which the British Government promised to establish a Jewish homeland, Lord Lothian stated that “civilization owes redress to the people who, for 2,000 years have been a homeless minority, their sufferings being vividly brought home by what is going on in Europe today.”
Declaring that a system of responsible government could not grow from the present proposals, he said: “We ought to delay action until the principle of the mandate is reasonably accepted.” He supported the Royal commission proposal.
Baron Jessel and Viscount Elibank warned against Arab supremacy in Palestine. They suggested a council whose members would be appointed. (The present proposal provides for elective and appointive members.)
The Earl of Mansfield proposed postponement of the entire council proposal.
The proposal might possibly help Arab politicians, but not the Arab people as a whole, said Baron Melchett, adding that the council would not bring peace. He asserted that the High Commissioner was misguided and that there was not “the remotest chance” of useful reforms under the proposal.
“The Government is not taking a straight, constructive line, but is trying to temporize and satisfy both sides,” declared Baron Marley, adding that the Palestine problem was important to many nations.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
