The Permanent Mandates Commission of the League of Nations yesterday concluded its examination of the reports on Palestine and Transjordan after questioning British representatives at length on the economic situation, education and other questions.
An official communique by the commission took note of the Mandatory Power’s declaration that questions about the proposed partition of Palestine could not be discussed at the present session because the Palestine Partition Commission was now at work. Consideration of petitions on the question was deferred.
Replying to queries, the British representatives said that unemployment and general economic deterioration in Palestine were due to political conditions. Capital was available, they said, but capitalists were hesitant to invest because of uncertainty about the future. They expressed the opinion that conditions would improve when the political situation was clarified.
Criticism of the open door commercial policy in Palestine was voiced by several members of the commission, who called attention to the need of measures to protect Palestine industry from unfair foreign competition. Commissioners also criticized the policy of higher grants by the Palestine Government for Arab education than for Jewish, suggesting it would be more equitable if the grants were made in proportion to population.
At the end of this week the commission will formulate its report to the League Council.
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