Partition Commission to Resume London Hearings Aug. 15

The Colonial Office announced today that the Palestine Partition Commission will resume hearings in London on August 15. Emphasizing that the commission is a technical body whose functions are confined to ascertaining the practical possibilities of the partition scheme, the colonial office asked that persons wishing to give evidence submit in advance six copies of a memorandum indicating the views they propose to present before it.

The London hearings are not expected to last more than a week and it is believed that the commission will complete its report and deliver it to the Cabinet by the end of September. According to a timetable which observers believe will be followed, the Cabinet will soon thereafter announce the Government policy. Debate in Parliament will then follow.

The House of Commons, which never accepted partition in principle, may handle the question roughly if the proposed frontiers of the Jewish and arab states which are to be carved from the holy land fail to satisfy in respect to security and immigration possibilities. Zionist circles are of the opinion that it may be necessary to convene an extraordinary World Zionist Congress in November or December to consider the concrete proposals eventuating from the commission’s investigation.

The Government is expected to submit its Palestine policy to the League of Nations Council at the January session. Despite possible criticism there, it is believed the League will have to accept the Mandatory’s policy, consequently there is a strong probability that the league and great Britain will be definitely committed within six months to establishment of a Jewish state in part of Palestine. While this does not mean immediate proclamation of a Jewish State, it should, however, end the present virtual suspension of immigration into the proposed Jewish territory.