May Publish British White Paper on Macmahon’s Correspondence with Arabs

The British Government’s white paper containing the correspondence between Sir Henry MacMahon. Jamal Husseini, Lord Curzon and King Feisal of Hedjaz may be published, as a result of the questions asked by Col. Howard Bury in the House of Commons regarding alleged pledges to the Arabs of Palestine. Bury again referred to the MacMahon letter of October 24, 1915, to Husseini, in which he is reported to have promised British support for Arab independence within the territory bounded on the north by Mersean Adana and on the west by the Red and Mediterranean Seas, thus including Palestine. Since these pledges had not been carried out Bury would at least give the Arabs a larger share in the government of Palestine.

On Monday Drummond Shields, Under-Secretary for the Colonies, in referring to the pledges, had replied that as far as the last part of the question was concerned, it is a matter of general policy and cannot be dealt with in questions and answers. The Conservative member, Boothby, suggested that the government take an early opportunity of laying down the policy, to which Shields replied that the government’s policy had been frequently stated and he saw no reason for any new expression of it.

Wedgwood raised the question of compensation for the riot victims and Shields declared that the claims were now being considered and that advances on account of compensation could be made. The Speaker ruled out Bury’s question whether similar compensation would be given to the four Christians and 83 Arabs. Shields answered that claims would be considered without regard to race or religion. Following question whether the British taxpayers would have to pay for compensation, Commander, Kenworthy suggested that the people who committed the outrages pay for them.