Britain to Hold off on Own Palestine Plan, Awaiting Offers by Arabs, Jews

Authoritative sources today revealed the policy to be followed by the British Government in its conferences with Arabs and Jews opening next Tuesday, as several foreign embassies, including the American, evinced interest in developments regarding the Palestine question.

After the formal opening of the parleys with addresses by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain to the various delegations, the actual negotiations will begin on Tuesday night with discussions between the Government and the Arabs, to be followed by talks with the Jews on Wednesday morning after arrival of the Jewish representatives from Palestine.

The statements to be made by the Jewish and Arab delegations and the proposals they advance for a solution of the Holy Land question will form the basis of the discussions, it was authoritatively learned. The British Government, it was understood, does not intend to put forward any scheme of its own, although it will not hesitate to take the initiative later by submitting draft proposals for consideration, if such procedure is helpful. No deadline has been set for the termination of the discussions. Although officials circles hope they will be concluded in three or four weeks, they will be prolonged as long as the possibility of reaching an agreement is indicated.

The British Government, it was authoritatively stated, is entering the conferences bound by its obligations under the mandate, but will not seek to prevent either the Arabs or Jews from demanding abandonment or alteration of the mandate. The delegations will be free to advance any proposals they believe will furnish a speedy solution of the Palestine question. The Government will insist, however, on a speedy solution of the problem. If the conferences fail to result in an agreement, then the Government will produce its own policy. The Government, it was said, has not yet any cut and dried policy, but has been working on the question and will be ready to announce a policy without great delay.

Confidence in the Government’s intention to bring about a speedy solution of the question, by voluntary Arab-Jewish agreement or, if need be, by a Government-imposed policy, was expressed by diplomatic circles, which are closely watching the developments because of their interest in the disposition that is made of the Palestine question.

The United States, which has an interest in Palestine’s future by virtue of the Anglo American convention of 1924, will be kept fully informed of major developments, it was understood, and should any plan involving alteration of the mandate or Palestine’s status emerge from the discussions, the British Government is expected to notify Washington at the same time that the plan is laid before the League of Nations Mandates Commission.

Poland’s interest in the negotiations results from her concern that Palestine remain an outlet for Jewish emigration. Turkey has a special interest because of the presence of representatives of Arab states and the rumored possibility that Palestine, once part of the Ottoman Empire, might become a member of a pan-Arab federation, to which Turkey would be opposed. Turkey opposes Britain’s granting the Arab states any greater role in Near Eastern affairs.