Times Doubts Britain Aided Amity

THE MANDATES COMMISSION IS NOT CONVINCING WHEN IT SEEKS TO SHOW THAT THE MANDATORY POWER “FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS SOUGHT TO APPEASE THE ANTAGONISTIC FEELINGS PREVAILING IN PALESTINE,” (QUOTING THE SUMMARY OF THE COMMISSION’S REPORT), THE NEW YORK TIMES SAID TODAY IN AN EDITORIAL.

“THERE IS LITTLE EVIDENCE IN THE OFFICIAL RECORDS AND LESS IN THE TESTIMONY OF JEWS AND ARABS ON THE SPOT THAT BRITISH ADMINISTRATORS HAVE MADE MORE THAN CASUAL EFFORTS TO BRING THE TWO GROUPS TOGETHER,” THE TIMES DECLARES. “ON THE CONTRARY, THROUGHOUT THE YEARS MODERATES ON BOTH SIDES HAVE SOUGHT VAINLY FOR ACTIVE BRITISH SUPPORT OF THEIR PLANS TO EFFECT A JEWISH-ARAB RAPPROCHEMENT.”

QUOTING THE SUMMARY’S STATEMENT THAT THE SUCCESS OF THE PARTITION PLAn DEPENDS MORE ON ITS EFFECTS ON THE RELATIONS BETWEEN THE ARABS AND JEWS THAN ON THE TERRITORIAL SOLUTION ADOPTED,” THE TIMES SAYS:

“THERE IS THE CRUX OF THE MATTER. THE TEST OF ANY PROGRAM PROPOSED FOR PALESTINE IS THE MEASURE IN WHICH IT MAY BE EXPECTED TO ADVANCE REAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN JEWS AND ARABS FOR ONLY THROUGH THEIR GENUINE COOPERATION CAN THE HIGHEST ASPIRATIONS OF BOTH BE ACHIEVED IN THE HOLY LAND.”