The greetings of Palestine Jewry to Sir Gilbert Clayton, formerly Civil Secretary of the Palestine government, who is here on his way to Bagdad, where he will assume his post as the new Higo Commissioner of Iraq, were conveyed by a delegation representing the National Council of Palestine Jews.
The delegation, which called on Sir Gilbert at the Government House, congratulated him on his appointment to the High Commissionership of the neighboring country to Palestine. The delegation expressed its hope that with Sir Gilbert at Bagdad, and with Col. George S. Symes, also a former Civil Secretary of the Palestine government, now British Resident at Aden, a better Arab-Jewish understanding will be promoted.
Sir Gilbert Clayton is a friend of the Zionist effort in Palestine. In press interviews the new Iraq High Commissioner stated that he was sure the interests of Great Britain and Iraq coincide. The Turkish Petroleum Company, which will operate the Mosul oil fields, is now conducting a survey from a commercial point of view as to the practicability of laying the Mosul oil pipe lines to Haifa. When the survey will be completed, the final decision on the route will be reached.
The new High Commissioner of Iraq also commented on the security of the frontier regions in connection with the attitude of the Wahabis. Sir Gilbert, who came into prominence by his negotiations with Ibn Saud, the Sultan of the Wahabis, declared that the ruler of Nejd and Mecca wants peace but is not able to impose his will on all the Wahabi tribes, which explains the recent raids on the part of Wahabi tribesmen.
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