British Leaders Launch Movement to Link Palestine Permanently with British Empire As Its Seventh Dom

A movement for the ultimate linking of Palestine as a permanent part of the British Empire, to be constituted as the Seventh Dominion, after the twenty-five year period of the Mandate, granted to Great Britain over Palestine by the League of Nations, will have expired, was launched here today.

To work for the accomplishment of this purpose a Seventh Dominion League will be formed at a conference which was convened for February 26, under the auspices of a committee of prominent British leaders under the temporary chairmanship of Col. Josiah Wedgwood, Labor M. P. and sponsor of the idea which he enunciated recently in a book entitled “The Seventh Dominion.” Cooperating with Col. Wedgwood are Sir Martin Conway, Sir Robert Hamilton, Lord Hartington, Major Hills, Dr. Drummond Shiels, Sir Leslie Scott, Lt. Com. Kenworthy. The members of the committee published in the “London Daily Telegraph” over their signature today, an appeal to British public opinion to support the movement, which has for its aim the establishment of a closer cooperation between the British and the Jews in relation to Palestine. The appeal is entitled “Control of a Vital Corridor.”

Membership in the League will be open to all those who sympathize with the idea without distinction of race or creed. Branches of the League are to be created throughout the British Empire and in Palestine for the purpose of propagating the aims of the organization among the British people and the Jews of all countries.

What the attitude of the official leadership of the Zionist Organization is with regard to this proposal is not known, but the Wedgwood idea has been discussed and favorably received by the Zionist Revisionists, oppositional group within the Zionist movement.

The purpose of the League as outlined will be:

1. To promote the progress of Palestine as the National Home of the Jewish people, securing the cooperation of the British people and the British administration of Palestine.

2. This cooperation should be so directed that upon the expiration of the Mandate over Palestine, the conditions should be such as would induce inhabitants of Palestine to choose the status of a self-governing dominion within the British Commonwealth.

3. To further friendship between the British and the Jewish peoples, based on the principles of justice, common interests and common ideals.

The functions of the League will be to strive to attain all or any of the following objects:

1. Appropriate legislative and administrative measures enabling the adequate settlement of Jews within the ancient borders to an extent sufficient for the realization of their aims.

2. That the Palestine government establish a special colonization department for the purpose of cooperating (Continued on Page 4)

3. The development of the interests of the Arabs and their conciliation, so that the Arabs may welcome and profit by the advent of western conciliation.

4. The introduction of a specially trained Palestine civil service and the gradual absorption of Jews into the administrative machinery of the country.

5. The treatment of Palestine in all matters, such as settlement, loans, commercial enterprises of imperial value or Empire marketing on a basis equal to that enjoyed by the Dominions.

6. The development in Palestine of self-government in local institutions. The administration of Palestine, however, is to be under British control until a majority of Jews and Arabs shall demand parliamentary government.

7. All Palestinian citizens are to obtain the rights and privileges of British subjects.

The Seventh Dominion League is to spread information concerning conditions in Palestine and make representations to the British Government whenever it will be found necessary concerning the administration of Palestine or proposed legislation.

In their appeal the signatories emphasize the vital interest Great Britain has in Palestine.