Hebrew Press Disappointed at Naming of Simpson to Mission in Palestine

The Hebrew press expresses great dissatisfaction with the appointment of Sir John Simpson to investigate land settlement, immigration and development in Palestine, in accordance with the recommendations of the Inquiry Commission. The “Doar Hayom,” commenting on Sir John’s appointment, says “it seems that England is preparing for a last decisive attack on our return to our land. Simpson’s appointment is destined to carry out the recommendations of the Inquiry Commission.”

Pointing out that Sir John’s appointment officially stated that his task was to make recommendations regarding immigration and colonization, the “Doar Hayom” says that means that “the Colonial Office is the victor, that it has succeeded in cancelling the appointment of a commission to investigate the fulfillment of the Mandate as suggested by Lord Balfour, General Smuts and Lloyd George and instead there came a man whose task it is to prove that a Jewish majority in Palestine and a Jewish state are impossible.

“The ‘London Times’ editorial clearly shows that just this is his task. We ask does England want an alliance with the Jewish people. Such a thing could not pass without shocks. It is impossible to rob an entire people of its hope without the people reacting accordingly. We entered the alliance 12 years ago sincerely and with great hopes. If London wants to end the alliance we shall have to seek our liberation in a new way.”

The “Ha’Aretz” also expresses its disappointment that a commission was not sent. “We had hoped that Britain would make good. what the Inquiry Commission prevented, by sending a commission of political leaders, or at least one such person, capable of realizing such a great human ideal as Zionism and of studying the Jewish upbuilding work without prejudice and not through the narrow spy-glass of a Colonial official; a person who could examine all the failures of the Palestine administration, make suggestions as to how to avoid failures in the future and finally to carry out Britain’s pledge of honor contained in the Mandate. But instead a Colonial official was appointed, apparently of the Indian service, to report on questions on which the Inquiry Commission made recommendations.

“Premier MacDonald apparently forgot his clear statement of the third of April in the House of Commons. He forgot his own enthusiastic articles on Zionist achievements and entrusted an Indian Colonial bureaucrat to report on cardinal and vital problems of Zionism. Probably, after the need of the latest political moment is fulfilled, a new solemn statement will come, declaring the Mandate and National Home policy in tact. Those whose very existence is affected by this play will draw their own consequences having no more confidence in talks.”