A legislative council for Palestine will be proclaimed Saturday by High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope at a conference with Arab leaders, it was officially established today.
In a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the Government confirmed reports that have been current that Sir Arthur had invited the Arab leaders to meet with him for that purpose.
Proclamation of the assembly, which will rule the Holy Land as a quasi-Democratic body, has been long deferred. Commissioner Wauchope is reported to have discussed institution of the assembly with the British Colonial Office during his recent visit to England.
Jews of all groups, both within and without Palestine, have been bitterly opposed to establishment of the council on the grounds that it will fix them permanently as a minority element in the population.
At the 19th World Zionist Congress in Lucerne last September, a resolution was adopted scoring the proposed council as contrary to the spirit of the Palestine mandate “in which is inherent the recognition of Palestine’s future not only as regards its present Jewish population but as regards the Jews of the world.”
According to recent reports, it is expected that composition of the council will be as follows:
Four Jews, six Moslems, two Palestinian Christians and ten Britons with the High Commissioner presiding and exercising veto power eve actions of the council.
Under the present system of government, the High Commissioner has complete executive power, and is answerable only to the British Colonial Office.
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