A suggestion that the British government’s White Paper on Palestine be submitted to The Hague Permanent Court for International Justice for an advisory opinion on the questions involved and that the British government should not enforce the paragraphs in the White Paper that have been challenged unless the Court decides in its favor is made by Sir John Simon and Viscount Hailsham, two of the leading advocates of England.
Writing to the London Times they find that the White Paper contravenes the provisions of the Palestine Mandate, especially article 6 dealing with immigration and land settlement. Quoting the preamble and articles 2 and 6 of the Mandate, Sir John and Viscount Hailsham maintain that paragraphs 15, 19, 28 and 23 of the White Paper not only conflict with the provisions of the Mandate but involve a departure from international obligation.
They declare that “this country can not afford to allow any suspicion to rest on its good faith or its determination to carry out to the full its international obligations. If, therefore, the terms of the White Paper are a deliberate and considered announcement of the government policy, we would suggest that immediate steps should be taken to induce the Council of the League of Nations to obtain from The Hague Court an advisory opinion on the questions involved, and that the British government should not enforce those paragraphs which are challenged unless and until that court has pronounced in its favor.”
The full text of the letter from Sir
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