Brithish Government’s Report to League Urges Consolidation of Jewish Position in Palestine

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The situation in Palestine as viewed by the British Government as the Mandatory Power was described in the report submitted by England to the Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations at its session last week and made public here today.

According to the British government’s report, the economic condition of Palestine is less favorable than last year. The financial situation of the Jewish population is unsatisfactory in comparison to the previous two years. This has affected trade generally.

While the public finances of the country are not unsatisfactory, the report proceeds, the situation demands a cautious policy.

The considerable increase in revenue is due mainly to the large influx of Jewish capital, but Jewish enterprise has not yet succeeded and cannot immediately succeed in increasing the country’s production to a level which would maintain its increasing population. Therefore, expenditure must be kept low, because of the difficuly in insuring financial stability.

It is possible that there is some danger that unduly pessimistic inferences will be made from the present situation regarding the establishment of the Jewish National Home, the report states. While the facts controvert those optimists who demand unrestricted immigration, criticize the government and urge a forward colonizing policy, it must be remembered that time is the essential, perhaps the prime factor in effecting a successful Jewish settlement in the country. All available monies and efforts should now be directed toward the consolidation of positions already gained.

The report praises the spirit and fortitude of the Jewish population during the crisis and their determined struggele through the difficult period.

Answering the Mandates Commission’s question as to what measures are being taken to secure the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Palestine, the government states in the report that its policy aims to place all inhabitants, irrespective of race or religion, on a footing of equality. The acts of good government themselves create conditions favorable to the development of the Jewish settlement in Palestine, it states.

The report enumerates the number of Jewish immigrants to the country, the increase in the land acquired for Jewish settlement, the expenditures of the Zionist Organization in promoting the development of the country. It also refers to the Jewish Agency agreement.