That Britain has been inactive when confronted with the unprecedented phenomenon presented by the Zionist movement is the criticism made in the conclusions of the Permanent Mandates Commission, according to information received by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The official publication of the Commission’s report will not be made public until Monday.
Pointing out that the riots of August, 1929, were preceded by threatening incidents which were likely to lead to an outbreak, the Mandates Commission also states in its report that there was a tendency on the part of representative Arabs to resist the Mandatory Power as such.
The report of the Commission is divided into three parts. The first section is devoted to commentary on the nature of the outbreaks and the attitude and conduct of the Mandatory Power during and before the outbreak. The second part deals with steps taken by the British Government to restore and maintain order, while the third section deals with the possible future policy to be pursued in Palestine, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency only party concerned who deserves criticism. “Undue weight has been given to criticism of the Mandatory which it had insufficient opportunity of rebutting, or in some cases, none at all,” states the British Government, adding that it cannot help but feel that a protest is called for against the procedure of the Commission in basing much of their criticism on information drawn from such sources.
Regarding the establishment of a Jewish National Home, continues the British reply, “the British Government welcomes the elucidation of the suggestions of the Mandates Commission which the League of Nations Council may offer.”
To the Mandates body’s criticism of the British Government’s neglect in agricultural and other development on behalf of the Arab, the British report points out that LS 9,000,000 in addition to LS 4,500,000 raised as a loan, have been expended for the development of Palestine since 1921.
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