A marked retreat by the British government from its Palestine policy as enunciated in the recent White Paper is seen by Zionist circles in the important assurances given by Lord Passfield, Colonial Secretary, yesterday in the House of Lords during the debate on Palestine, that the government does not intend to prohibit the purchase of land or to prevent the exclusive employment of Jewish labor on land held as the inalienable property of the Jewish people.
The debate which was impromptu was introduced by Lord Islington, champion of the Arab cause, who asked whether the government considers it in consonance with public policy that the acquirement of large tracts of land in Palestine as the inalienable property of Jewish organizations should be permitted and that conditions should be allowed to be inserted preventing the lessees from employing any but Jewish laborers.
The statement of Lord Passfield came as a great relief to the Zionists here, who had awaited with a certain anxiety the outcome of this debate, in view of the many anti-Zionists in the House of Lords.
PURCHASE OF LARGE TRACTS LEGAL
Replying to Lord Islington, Lord Passfield said, that is not unlawful now, in accordance with the laws of Palestine, to purchase large tracts of land as the inalienable property of the Jewish people or to insert in agreements with lessees on such land a condition for the exclusive employment of Jewish labor. Openly stating the official government view for the first time, Lord Passfield made it clear that “the government does not propose any amendments making the purchase of land unlawful as such.”
Whether or not such purchases are consonant with public policy is “a question of degree, and the manner in which the option is taken and the object with which it is taken quite clearly would be a relevant consideration in a particular case where results are likely to be produced which would be in conflict with the Mandatory’s obligations towards all sections of the Palestine population,” Lord Passfield said.
It is not only the Jews who have acquired land on trust, however, Lord Passfield pointed out, saying that there was also land held by Moslems and by other denominations under trust that has been acquired for various purposes. He added, however, that he “must admit it would probably be found that the Jewish acquisitions are larger than most others.”
SPECIFICATION NOT CONTRARY TO LAW
Lord Passfield further denied that a specification of which class of people should be employed on land is to such an extent contrary to public policy that it ought to be prohibited by law. “It would at least require very definite evidence of harmful effects before it could be declared to be contrary to law,” Lord Passfield stated. In paragraph 19 and 20 of the White Paper, the policy of the Jewish agencies of acquiring land as the inalienable property of the Jewish people and in providing for the exclusive employment of Jewish labor was criticized.
The Colonial-Secretary recalled that not many years ago Irish and Catholics were often barred from work in England, and “nobody considered it necessary to prohibit such discriminations by law.” Lord Passfield concluded with the assurance that the consideration would be born in mind for the complete execution of the Palestine Mandate incorporating the Balfour Declaration, and applicable not only to Jews but to all sections of the population.
After asking the question which precipitated the discussion, Lord Islington pointed out that the grave state of affairs in Palestine was due to the fact that Arabs who had been occupying land for generations had been expropriated so far as all practical purposes were concerned. He suggested that in cases where Arabs were displaced alternate land should be given them. Lord Danesfort, supporting Lord Islington, regarded the prohibition of Arab labor as a direct boycott. He said that if a similar condition would have been extended to the 114,000 acres in possession of the Jewish Colonization Association a serious position for Arab laborers would have developed and “if such policy is continued
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