Issue to Go to Commons if Council Backs Mandates Commission

Official quarters said today that if the League of Nations Council agreed with the majority of the Mandates Commission’s voting members that the new Palestine policy was a violation of the mandate or if it recommended alteration of the mandate then the Government would submit the whole issue to the House of Commons.

These quarters did not however accept the view that the commission had rejected the policy pointing out that only four of 11 members expressed this view while three dissented. It was added that in any case the commission was merely an advisory body and the Council would not necessarily agree with the predominant opinion.

The Government these quarters reiterated does not intend to hand the Jewish national home over to Arab domination. While it was admitted that the policy practically meant Arab control over Jewish immigration it was stated that it did not mean subordination of the rights of the Jews since the Government was determined that ordinary majority rule would not prevail in the proposed Palestine state wherever the vital interests of the Jews were concerned. While not seeking to prejudge its ultimate policy the Government definitely favors establishment of a federal constitution although it is ready to consider other suggestions it was stated.

Nothing in the policy alters the position of the Jewish Agency for Palestine which is included in the White Papers reference to appropriate Jewish and Arab representative bodies and the Government has no intention of elbowing out the Jewish Agency the official quarters said.

Most of the Mandates Commission members disregarded the political consideration which the Mandatory Power must keep in mind as relevant for the due discharge of their obligations under the mandate it was stated. The British Government therefore submits that the League Council like the Mandatory Power must take regard of these matters.