A demand that the British Government prepare to turn over the administration of Palestine to “Palestinians” is made in the Arab newspaper, “Adiffa,” today.
Pointing out that the White Paper expires in the Spring of next year, the paper asserts that “undoubtedly the London Government has made preparations for elections to a parliament, for larger participation by Palestinians in the higher Palestine administration, and for the handing over of responsibility for Palestine affairs to Palestinians, so that British officials will only remain as advisers and instructors.”
The White Paper, which was issued on May 17, 1939, contains, in addition to the more publicized clauses which virtually bar Jewish immigration after next March and halt land purchases by Jews, provisions for the admission of Palestinians to administrative posts in larger numbers looking towards the creation of an independent state in about 1949 or later if circumstances necessitate a postponement. Under the immigration restrictions Jews would comprise only one third of the country’s population.
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