Report Abbas Hilmi Seeks to Become King of Palestine with Aid of Jewish Agency

Abbas Hilmi, former Khedive of Egypt, whose yacht is now anchored in Palestine waters, is negotiating with the Jewish Agency to solve the Jewish problem in Palestine and the Jewish Agency has offered to help him become King of Palestine, under certain conditions, is the assertion made by the Arab paper, “Falastin.”

The conditions under which the Jewish Agency has agreed to help Abbas Hilmi, according to the “Falastin,” are: 1. That he recognize all Jewish rights granted by the Balfour Declaration and the Mandate for Palestine. 2. That all landless Arabs in Palestine be transported to Transjordan. 3. That a large flow of Jewish immigration to Palestine, as worked out by the Jewish Agency, be permitted. 4. That government offices be held by Jews and that Hebrew be recognized as the official language.

The “Falastin” asserts that this information was received by its editor from “a leading personality in London.” As proof of the authenticity of its information, the paper points to the fact that both Nahum Sokolow, president of the Jewish Agency, and Lord Melchett visited Palestine at the same time that Abbas Hilmi was expected. Their visit, the paper writes, was for the purpose of meeting the former Khedive and continuing the negotiations.

In Jewish circles, the “Falastin” report is regarded as a bitter joke, inasmuch as it is well known that the former Khedive has never been a friend of the Jews nor sympathetic to Jewish aspirations in Palestine.

Abbas Hilmi arrived in Palestine waters on his yacht on December 25th and has remained on shipboard in Haifa Harbor without landing.

Since his arrival the Arab press has been full of rumors that his ambition is to become King of Palestine. He is attacked by the Arab press which charges him with being both an agent of the British government and an agent of the Jews.

Abbas Hilmi has filed a suit of damages, charging libel, against the responsible editor of the Arab paper, “Majallat el Arabia,” appearing in Jerusalem, because the latter declared: “Abbas Hilmi would certainly not care a straw if Palestine were sold to the Jews.”

Abbas Hilmi’s failure to land on Palestine soil has given rise to many rumors. The strongest rumor current has it that the British Government has asked him not to land in Palestine, even though given a visa.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned from reliable sources that the reason for his remaining on board his yacht is because he wishes to receive official invitations from the High Commissioner and the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency is informed that the High Commissioner will not extend an official invitation to Abbas Hilmi. The Mufti, according to reliable information, has received warnings from Moslem circles in London and Geneva not to receive Abbas Hilmi as his visit to Palestine is in connection with certain political plans which will not be beneficial to the Moslem cause.