The British Government is expected to issue on Wednesday a white paper setting forth its decision for settlement of the Palestine question, with indications pointing to drastic restriction of Jewish immigration and land purchase and the limiting of Jews to a ratio of one-third of the population.
It was learned today that Colonial Secretary Malcolm MacDonald told Arab delegates to the Palestine conference that the British Government’s obligations to the Jews under the Balfour Declaration would be discharged when Palestine’s Jewish population reached one-third of the total. (There are at present about 45 Jews to every 100 Arabs.) The statement was made in the course of Britain’s final proposals for an agreement. As far as can be learned, Mr. MacDonald did not present this viewpoint to the Jews.
The Colonial Secretary was understood to have told the Arabs also that with the admission of 75,000 Jewish immigrants over a five-year period, as envisaged in the final proposals, Palestine would have done all that could be expected by the country towards a solution of the problem of Jewish homelessness. Arab circles expect that these views will be incorporated in the British unilateral policy to be announced on Wednesday.
As indicated to both the Jews and Arabs, the Government will take strong measures to prevent illegal immigration. Deductions will be made from subsequent immigration schedules for illegal immigrants who cannot be deported.
Last week’s British proposals set a maximum Jewish immigration of 10,000 annually for five years, with possible admission of an additional 25,000 refugees, dependent on the country’s absorptive capacity. In view of the Colonial Secretary’s assertion that in the event of non-agreement the Government would withdraw its “concessions,” it is expected that the new immigration quota will be somewhat less than that suggested in the final proposals. The new policy is also expected to give the Palestine High Commissioner control of land sales or establish a zoning system based Iargely on the report of the Woodhead Commission.
In view of the rejection of the British plan with which the conference culminated, informed circles gravely doubt that the Government will be able to enforce a policy providing for constitutional development, which requires a large measure of cooperation from both other parties. While such cooperation might be forthcoming from the Arab moderates, providing the terror is completely crushed, it is considered most unlikely that the Jews will cooperate to implement any policy aiming at eventual establishment of an independent Palestine state in which they would be a minority. Should the new policy, as expected here, contain the principles of the final proposals, the Palestine Jews are expected to organize a wide campaign of passive non-cooperation with the Government.
Measures to stamp out terrorism will be taken in connection with proclamation of the new policy, it is indicated. The Palestine authorities are reported to be taking all precautions against terroristic demonstrations upon issuance of the white paper.
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