The Palestine Development Scheme drawn up by the Government for giving effect to its policy in regard to agricultural development and land settlement in Palestine, was rejected today by the Palestine Arab Executive, at a special meeting called to consider the matter before the arrival of the Director of Development, Mr. French, who is due here in a few days’ time.
The meeting was attended by 31 members of the Executive, and after a stormy debate, it was decided by a majority of votes not to recognise any informal conversations with the Government, such as were conducted by Arab leaders with the High Commissioner in Palestine on the White Paper, when the Arab Executive refused to send representatives to London to accept the Government invitation to participate in the official negotiations). It was also decided by the meeting not to appoint an Arab adviser to assist the Director of Development. (“The Jewish Agency and the Arab Executive will be invited to nominate one member each to assist the Director in an advisory capacity,” was a passage in the dispatch sent by the Colonial Secretary, Lord Passfield, to the High Commissioner, setting out the methods of carrying the Development Scheme into effect, which was published in the J.T.A. Bulletin of July 21st.).
The meeting has drawn up a draft statement explaining the reason for its rejection of the Government offer.
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