London Times Defends Palestine Policy

Dealing with the Duke of Devonshire’s statement to the Arab representatives that no change is possible in the Palestine policy, the “Times” today declares it is a good thing the new Government has made clear its attitude. There should be no room for uncertainty concerning the fundamental principles of the British policy in Palestine, says the “Thunderer”, which in the last days of Lord Northelife had taken up such a hostile stand toward Zionism. The White Paper, it is declared, came just in time, bringing order to the situation which was threatened with confusion. There is no occasion for the present Government to alter its policy. The editorial continues:

“We are in Palestine. British interests, no less than the honorable undertakings we have entered into, demand of us that we stay and complete the task. It is incumbent upon us to make British impartiality dominant. The Administration should be neither pro-Jewish nor pro-Arab, but British”.

Turning to the Arab claims, the “Times” says: “We are bound to confess that many of the Arab grievances appear to be purely imaginary. Invited to enumerate concrete instances of injustice, the Arabs decant generalities which are based rather on fear than fact. No new settlement is possible without minor disturbances. We shall not fall away from our position, and it will be Britain’s task to deal out impartial justice to the quarreling peoples. Great Britain can not contemplate any abandonment of the task until it has trained the inhabitants to administer the country without internal strife and to defend it without assistance.”