Palestine High Commissioner Says White Paper is “last Word” in British Policy

Members of the Jewish Agency here today refused to comment on the announcement made last week in the Egyptian Senate that the Government of Egypt is calling a conference in Cairo of Arab leaders from Palestine, Syria and other Arab countries for the purpose of discussing the question of the formation of a Pan Arab Federation.

At the same time it was learned here today that Sir Harold MacMichael, High Commissioner of Palestine, has indicated in private conversations in Palestine that the British White Paper, under which Jewish immigration into Palestine must be stopped next Spring, is “the last word” in British policy with regard to Palestine. The White Paper policy is also supported by the former Palestine High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Wauchope, in a book published this week under the title “Islam Today.”

The views expressed by Sir Arthur are bitterly criticized by Zionist leaders here. An article in the current issue of the Zionist Review, official Zionist organ, also takes issue with the former High Commissioner for his advice to the Jews to accept the White Paper “because its policy constitutes no danger for the legitimate aspirations of true Zionists.”

Sir Arthur denies that there are possibilities for settlement in Transjordan. While praising the Jews, he insists that “not every immigrant Jew is a saint.” He completely avoids any mention of the Jewish tragedy in Europe in connection with Palestine’s immigration problem. “The superficial analysis of Sir Arthur Wauchope is nothing but an enthusiastic support of the policy which attempts to destroy the Jewish National Home,” the Zionist Review writes.