The attitude of the British government with regard to the establishment of a Legislative Council in Palestine has not changed and steps toward the formation of a Legislative Council will be taken after the new government ordinance with regard to municipal administrations is carried out, Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, Palestine High Commissioner informed the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations, according to an official resume of his address made public today.
“I am hopeful that a moderate opinion will prevail and that when the proposals for a Legislature are put forward they will be accepted by leaders of both parties,” Sir Arthur declared.
“The proposals will necessarily contain definite safeguards so that under no circumstances will the peace and security of the country be endangered or the carrying out of the terms of the Mandate be hampered,” the High Commissioner said.
Great Britain’s last official statement with regard to a Legislative Council was contained in the Passfield white Paper of 1930 which aroused a storm of protest. While Premier MacDonald sent a memorandum to Dr. Chaim Weizmann, as President of the Jewish Agency, which was intended to allay the fears of the Jews with regard to Palestine policy, the communication contained no reference to the Legislative Council.
The Passfield White Paper declared that His Majesty’s Government “have decided that the time has arrived for a further step in the direction of the grant to the people of Palestine of a measure of self-government compatible with the terms of the Mandate.
“His Majesty’s Government accordingly intend to set up a Legislative Council generally on the lines indicated in the statement of British policy in Palestine issued by Mr. Churchill in June 1922.”
“The Legislative Council”, the White Paper continued, “will consist of the High Commissioner and 22 members, of whom ten will be official members and 12 unofficial members. Unofficial members of the Council will normally be elected by primary and secondary elections. It is, however, in the view of His Majesty’s Government so important to avoid the repetition of the deadlock which occurred in 1923 that steps will be devised to insure the appointment of the requisite number of unofficial members to the Council in the event of one or more members failing to be elected on account of the non co-operation of any section of the population or for any other reason. The High Commissioner will continue to have the necessary power to insure that the Mandatory shall be enabled to carry out its obligations to the League of Nations, including any legislation urgently required, as well as the maintenance of order.”
At the same time the White Paper made it known that “His Majesty’s Government desire to make it quite clear that while they would deeply regret an attempt on the part of any section of the population to prevent them from giving effect to their decision, all possible steps will be taken to circumvent such an attempt, if made, since they consider it in the interests of the population of the country as a whole that the further steps now proposed should no longer be deferred.”
Steps toward the constitutional development of Palestine were inaugurated in 1920 when an Advisory Council was set up consisting of official and unofficial nominated members in equal parts. There were ten unofficial members, consisting of four Moslems, three Christians and three Jews.
On the first of September 1922, the Palestine Order in Council was issued, setting up a Government in Palestine under the Foreign Jurisdiction Act. This directed the establishment of a Legislative Council consisting of the High Commissioner as President, with ten other official members and twelve elected non-official members. In February and March, 1923 an attempt was made to hold elections to the Council. This failed because of the refusal of the Arabs to cooperate. The High Commissioner thereupon suspended the establishment of the Council and continued to act in consultation with an Advisory Council as before. This condition still obtains, the only change being that the Council has been enlarged by the addition of more official members. Proposals for the constitutional development were put forward by Sir John Chancellor during his term as High Commissioner, but the disturbances of 1929 prevented their discussion.
“We would gladly govern Palestine in accordance with the wishes of the two races. When these wishes conflict, I shall use every means to reconcile them. If the efforts prove of no avail the government must, regardless of criticism, carry out the policy it considers in the best interests of the people as a whole and in accordance with the mandate.”
This declaration was made by Sir Arthur in reply to a question by Lord Lugard, British member of the Mandates Commission, immediately after he had completed his introductory declaration.
The High Commissioner said in his introductory declaration: “Three main problems stand before the High Commissioner: The first is to maintain security, although there is no danger of external aggression, the country has long frontiers necessitating forces.”
Referring to the large number of murders, robberies and agrarian crimes, Sir Arthur stressed the government’s efforts to increase the efficiency of the defense forces.
“Neither now nor in the near future shall I be able to recommend the reduction of expenditure for the defense and police forces,” he said.
As the second Palestine problem, he named that of encouraging the feelings of good will between all sections of the inhabitants and to help their economic development.
Economically, he said, Palestine conditions are sound. Industry is developing as well as building enterprise.
He enumerated the various government measures to assist the agricultural population and to facilitate the position of the fellaheen.
Touching on the report of Lewis French, Palestine Land Commissioner, Sir Arthur stated that the report is being considered at present by the Jewish Agency and the Arab Executive, but that it is improper to make any statement until their comments are received.
As the third problem, the High Commissioner cited efforts to increase the feelings of trust and confidence between the people and the government.
He reported the establishment of an Agricultural Council and the introduction of non-official Arab members on the Railway Board. Unfortunately, he said, several Arab members have resigned out of fear. The number of those refusing co-operation is increasing.
Referring to the Supreme Moslem Council, Sir Arthur said that in the future it will be endeavored to make its membership actually representative of Moslem public opinion.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
