Mandates Commission Blames Arabs for 1936 Riots

THE 1936 DISORDERS IN PALESTINE ARE BLAMED ON THE ARABS IN THE REPORT OF THE MANDATES COMMISSION TO THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS COUNCIL. THE COMMISSION POINTS OUT THAT LAST YEAR’S ATTACKS WERE MADE BY THE ARABS AND THAT THE JEWS ACTED ONLY IN SELF-DEFENSE. ITS VIEW CONTRASTS WITH THAT OF THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN PALESTINE, WHICH, IN ITS REPORT HELD THE JEWS TO A GREAT EXTENT RESPONSIBLE FOR PRECIPITATING THE DISTURBANCES.

THE REPORT DEALS WITH FUTURE PALESTINE POLICY, THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COUNTRY IN 1935 AND 1936 AND PETITIONS ON HOLY LAND AFFAIRS SUBMITTED BY INTERESTED PARTIES. THE COMMISSION POINTS OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE 1936 REVOLT STARTED IN APRIL, MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS ARRIVED IN PALESTINE FROM MALTA AND EGYPT IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE. IT ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO PROCLAIM MARTIAL LAW IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

GREAT BRITAIN’S ACTION IN RESTRICTING JEWISH IMMIGRATION TO PALESTINE TO 1,000 A MONTH IS HELD TO BE A VIOLATION OF THE MANDATE. THE COMMISSION POINTS OUT THAT THAT DOCUMENT DEFINITELY FIXES IMMIGRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ECONOMIC ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY OF THE COUNTRY. ON THIS POINT NEARLY ALL THE COMMISSION MEMBERS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT PIERRE ORTS OF BELGIUM, ATTACKED THE ARGUMENTS OF JOHN HATHORN-HALL, FORMER CHIEF SECRETARY OF THE PALESTINE GOVERNMENT, WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE COMMISSION AT ITS HEARINGS LAST MONTH. THE COMMISSIONERS ASKED WHETHER THE BRITISH ORDER LIMITING JEWISH IMMIGRATION CERTIFICATES TO 8,000 FOR THE EIGHT-MONTH PERIOD BEGINNING AUG. I WAS A TEMPORARY MEASURE OR A FUTURE POLICY.

THE REPORT COMMENTS FAVORABLY ON THE PETITION OF MOSHE SMILANSKY, PALESTINE FARM LEADER, REGARDING “DUMPING” OF FOREIGN GOODS IN PALESTINE, AND RECOMMENDS A SYSTEM OF BALANCING IMPORTS WITH EXPORTS IN THE CASE OF EACH COUNTRY TRADING WITH THE HOLY LAND.