In connection with the statement issued in London by the Colonial office (given in the J.T.A. Bulletin of the 24th. inst.), that while discussions on the development scheme for Palestine have been started in London with the Jewish Agency by the Inter-Departmental Committee appointed by the Government, discussions have also been started on the same matter in Jerusalem by the High Commissioner with the Arab leaders, considerable puzzlement exists in Jewish quarters here over the fact that the High Commissioner, Sir John Chancellor, has for some days now been at Haifa, and therefore could not be conducting discussions with the Arab leaders in Jerusalem, and on Wednesday will be leaving Palestine for England for a month in connection with his daughter’s forth-coming wedding there.
The Chief Secretary to the Palestine Government, Mr. Young, tells the J.T.A. in response to an enquiry, that no information is possible as yet with regard to the Government conversations here with the Arab leaders.
The Palestine Arab Executive, however, has published a statement tonight flatly denying that the Arab leaders have consented to official parleys, and insisting that none can be held unless the Government accepts the conditions which the Arab Executive has submitted to the High Commissioner.
By a great majority, the Arab organ “Felestin” writes, a mandate has been given to the Arab Executive to enter into negotiations with the Government in order to present the Arab point of view and to defend the Arab interests in the development scheme to be initiated by the Government, provided that such a participation should not in any way mean the recognition, in any sense, of the policy of the Jewish National Home. It has also been laid down that the MacDonald letter or any other statement supporting its policy, should not form the basis of the negotiations. At the same time it was agreed that the discussions should take place in Palestine and the Arab delegates should not join the Jewish delegates in these discussions.
The Arabs, the “Felestin” says, have said their word; it is for the Government to say its word.
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