Falastin Criticizes Proposed Council Which Would Include 3 Jews in 10 Official Members

The English edition of the Arab paper Falastin today complains that of the ten official appointed members of the proposed legislative council the Jews will receive three members which the paper claims is out of proportion to the Jewish population or its importance. The three Jews to whom the Falastin refers are attorney-general Norman Bentwich, Albert Hyamson, chief immigration officer, who is a convert to Christianity, and M. Abramson, land director.

Saying that of all the political questions none are more important than a parliament, the Falastin declares that the Arabs are convinced that any change for the better in their economic and social conditions must come through a parliament. Although it praises the British government’s statement of policy, the Falastin argues that the government has not done and is not likely to do its part unless it is goaded on by a constitutionally established criticizing body.

The Arabs ask, however, the Falastin adds, whether the legislative council offered in 1922 is the only possible measure of self-government that can be offered. “Must the Arabs be denied a more liberal measure because the Jews make exaggerated demands?” the Falastin asks. Referring to the fact that three Jews are likely to be named among the official members of the council, the Falastin proposes that the government give some official seats to other important interests.

The Palestine Christians alone are divided into four groups and the Arabs generally represent at least three schools of thought. As regards land the Falastin argues that Sir John Simpson justified all of the Arab contentions that with present methods no margin of land exists for agricultural settlement or new immigrants and hence renews its plea to the Jews to help the fellah in intensive cultivation thus “conciliating the fellah and proving their good faith. Thus slowly but certainly making more land available without wronging anybody.”