The diplomatic correspondent of the Jewish Chronicle today accused the Mandates Commission of evading “an awkward duty” by declaring itself technically incompetent to rule on the Palestine White Paper. He asserted that the Belgian, Dutch, Danish and Swiss commissioners were fully prepared to report to the Council that the new British policy was contrary to the mandate but had been persuaded by the British and French commissioners that it would be disastrous to present a report that was not unanimous or conflicting majority and minority reports.
The Chronicle writer declared that the commissioners had agreed to declare their technical incompetence to make recommendations, thus leaving a decision to a Council “packed” with the allies of Britain and France whose verdict was “a foregone conclusion.” The periodical accused the British press of a conspiracy of silence on the Mandates Commission proceedings and the outcome of the deliberations.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
