With a deadlock reached in the Anglo-Arab discussions over the Arab demand for an independent state, the talks are now turning to the interrelated questions of Jewish immigration and land sales, which will be considered along with the issue of a Palestine constitution when the conversations are resumed tomorrow. Official circles point out that the three questions are interdependent and full discussion of all three will bring the Anglo-Arab talks to the concluding stage.
The decision to proceed to the immigration and land questions while an Anglo-Arab subcommittee studies the dispute over the MacMahon correspondence, was taken at yesterday’s session. It was learned in Arab circles that Colonial Secretary Malcolm MacDonald outlined briefly to the Arabs alternative proposals for progressive restriction of Jewish immigration for a stipulated period, curtailment of land purchase under a zoning system previously outlined to the Jews and some form of legislative assembly in which the Arabs would predominate. On the last point, it is understood that Mr. MacDonald did not go into details and did not indicate how the proposal for Arab predominance would be reconciled with the principle of political equality suggested to the Jews.
Although the Jewish delegates on Friday rejected his proposals, it is expected that Mr. MacDonald will discuss details, particularly with regard to a constitution, when the Anglo-Jewish talks are resumed on Monday night. The Jewish Agency Executive met today to review the first two weeks of the conferences. President Chaim Weizmann is now in Paris but will return for tomorrow’s session of the conference.
In connection with the conference, a service was held tonight at the Great Synagogue in the presence of the Jewish delegates and numerous rabbis recently arrived from Germany. Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Palestine offered a prayer for the Royal family and Chief Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz of Great Britain a prayer for the success of the conference. The Jews will never accept a status as refugees in Palestine, Dr. Stephen S. Wise declared during a sermon at the Northwest Reform Synagogue.
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