Tells Why Arabs Sold Huleh Swamps

In an article in “Al Jamia Al Arabia,” the Mufti’s newspaper, the Al Salam family of Beirut which held part of the Huleh swamps concession, is defended against those Arab elements who have criticized the transaction. The article is interesting in that it presents an idea of the difficulties that face the Jewish Agency in its reclamation project.

The writer of the three-column story—who signs it with the initials A.S.—defends the Al Salam family, stating that it was forced into the transaction owing to sizable losses it had sustained in trying to drain the area.

DRAINED 15,000 DUNAMS

The Syron-Ottoman Agricultural Corporation which held the concession, he claims, spent £90,000 since 1914 and had drained 15,000 dunams.

Another 15,000 dunams could not be reclaimed by them at all, owing to its extreme marshy nature. This work, the writer states, would have cost £750,000.

“What Arab with any sense,” he asks, “would agree to pay £350 per dunam for such drainage?”

CITES SIMPSON REPORT

He further adds that Sir John Hope Simpson, in his report, had declared that this area was impossible of reclamation.

Continuing his defense of the Al Salam family, the writer says that the family was forced into the negotiations by the unsympathetic attitude shown to their demands by the Palestine authorities. The money received by them, he adds, will be used on projects that will employ Arabs.

TRACE HULEH OWNERSHIP

The ownership of the Huleh area is now vested in the Palestine Land Development Co., which acquired it from the previous owners, the Syron-Ottoman Agricultural Co., a partnership of several Beirut families, which held it from 1914.

With the deal consummated, it is now revealed that a long chapter of negotiations preceded the actual conclusion of the transfer formalities.

In obtaining the consent of the government to the transaction, Dr. Chaim Weizmann took the initiative, supported by the late Dr. Arlosoroff. The decisive step in consummating the transfer was effected, as in so many other cases ###land purchases by Joshua Hankin, who maintained contact with the concessionaires for many years, and who signed the preliminary agreement in the spring of 1933.

Negotiations with the government for the approval of the assignment of the concession the P.L.D.C. proceeded for some eighteen months. During the latter more decisive period the Jewish Agency Executive was active as the medium and leader of the conversations. The government was represented by the Development Officer, Mr. Andrew.

The final government confirmation was obtained about the end of September and a few days later the Palestine Land Development Co. fulfilled the terms of the provisional agreement, and so acquired the concession. A further two months passed until the land itself was handed over. This occurred November 28, in the farm of the concessionaires at Zubeid (Yesod Hamaalah).

The area of concession is 57,000 metric dunams, including the lake of Mermon, which covers at present 17,000 dunams. The P.L.D.C. undertook with the agreement of the Jewish Agency, to set aside for Arab tenants who now cultivate land within the concession zone, an area sufficient for their livelihood providing it does not exceed 15,000 dunams, but may be less.

34,000 DUNAMS AVAILABLE

The new concessionaires have undertaken also to drain the area to be allotted to the Arabs and provide irrigation facilities for them.

As a result of the drainage the Huleh Lake will shrink considerably and it is expected that an area of from 34,000 to 37,000 dunams of fertile soil, irrigable and suitable for intensive cultivation, will be made available for Jewish settlement.

Long before the concession was acquired, the P.L.D.C. opened negotiations with a number of settlement and financial bodies in regard to their participation in the drainage and colonization of the Huleh area. These negotiations have not yet been concluded but the proposals under consideration are such that no difficulty in raising the necessary funds need be anticipated.