Palestine Land Ordinance May Be Abandoned by New Government

The new Palestine Land Ordinance which was prepared by Lord Passfield at the time he was Colonial Secretary in the Labour Government, and was to have been published on August 20th., but was subsequently postponed on the representations of the Jewish Agency until September 7th., may be altogether abandoned in its present form by the new National Government, the J.T.A. learns.

But for the sudden change in the political situation brought about by the resignation of the Labour Government and the establishment of the National Ministry, the Palestine Land Ordinance would in all probability have been enforced on the date announced, adding greatly to the difficulties experienced by the Jewish Agency in its land acquisition in Palestine. Lord Passfiold’s position in the Cabinet appeared to be of the strongest. He was regarded as one of the chief supporters of Mr. Snowdon, then and now Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the tariff issue, and it looked as if he would be able to carry through his Palestine policy by the strength of his position in the cabinet, despite the opposition which had been roused by his Palestine White Paper, and the general administration in Palestine under his regime.

The Zionist Executive at its session held in Zurich last month had emphatically decided to reject the Ordinance in its present form. Meanwhile, Sir John Chancellor, the late High Commissioner for Palestine, arrived in London, and added his support to Lord Passfield, who insisted that there could be no further changes made in the Ordinance, since the Director of Development in Palestine, Mr. Lewis French, had already assumed his duties, and the immediate publication of the Ordinance must follow, without allowing further time for discussion.

Immediate and radical changes in British policy in regard to the Zionist aims in Palestine are not, however, anticipated, since Lord Passfield, before he resigned, had already gone a long way towards effecting his plans, and no complete retreat is likely. Some considerable changes are, however, expected.

It is doubtful, the J.T.A. understands, whether the present Government will refrain from carrying out the Palestine Development Scheme because of the financial position in the country, or abandon the Palestine Development Scheme altogether for that reason. The question of Palestine Development, it is pointed out, may not be connected directly with the Government’s financial difficulties, since the money would not be drawn from British Government funds, but would be raised by means of an independent guaranteed loan. The question whether the abolition of the Palestine Development Scheme is desirable for the Jewish Agency is dubious, and to raise it may be playing into the hands of the Arab politicians.