Text of Macdonald Address

Following is the text of Colonial Secretary Malcolm Mac-Donald’s radio broadcast on his Palestine visit:

After brief introductory remarks referring to his entry into the country by plane rather than on camelback, Mr. MacDonald said:

“In Jerusalem devout Jews were gathering in the streets for celebration of one of their fast days as though there was no danger within 1,000 miles. Yet armed soldiers and police patrolled the streets. Every bus, town or country, was caged with thick iron bars across the windows, protecting its passengers from bombs.

“Under the mandate a great host of Jewish immigrants have settled in Palestine and found their national home. This peaceful invasion has alarmed the Arabs, many of whom will stop at nothing in efforts to check it.

“Amongst our manifold responsibilities we do not have a more delicate trust than our Government of a tiny country which contains some of the holy places of Christians and Jews and Mohammedans alike.

“To solve the problem of the bitter clash between Arabs who had lived in Palestine for many generations and exiled Jews returning to their home of centuries ago, the recent Royal Commission recommended a drastic remedy — partition of the country into separate Jewish and Arab states, with a British corridor between.

“Our Government had accepted this policy as the best and most helpful solution. But the final decision could not be taken until the technical commission which is presently inquiring into the details of partition had finished labors which will still take several weeks. After that, decisions must be reached with the least possible delay.

“In the meantime the authorities have the hard task of restoring order. I went to Jerusalem to discuss with the High Commissioner and Gen. Haining, who commands the British troops there, the present situation and particularly this question of security.

“These two men are facing as difficult a task as has confronted British authorities in any country since the war, and their cooperation inspires confidence. But in a land with some areas difficult of access and where such fearful feud has arisen, the task will not be accomplished quickly. It may be that it cannot be fully accomplished until the policy has been finally settled and carried into effect.

“The British Government will administer its trust on the basis of justice between the Jews who are building at long last a national home and the Arabs whose title in the land of their birth is indisputable.

“Sometimes man’s powers of conciliation and creation appear puny. They seem easily overthrown by violence and hate which he can also let loose. But there is a spirit that broods over Palestine, and with God’s help peace will be restored in the Holy Land.”