Yiddish Press Sees Report of Inquiry Commission As Politics and Designed to Satisfy Both Sides and E

Both the “Jewish Morning Journal” and the “Day” of Tuesday, in editorials regard the report of the Palestine Inquiry Commission as animated by politics, endeavoring to satisfy both Jews and Arabs and to exonerate the Palestine government from all blame for the August riots, according to summaries prepared by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

“The Arabs are to blame for the riots—this is throwing a bone to the Jews. But the riots were not planned in advance, but represented an outburst of popular wrath—this is a bone for the Arabs. The mandatory Power could not foresee that the popular revolt would come so suddenly—this is an excuse for the government of Palestine. The immigration to Palestine must be controlled even further—a concession to the Arabs. The land question must again be investigated and the government must see to it that the fellaheen shall be able to remain on their soil—this is a concession to the Arabs again. The result is that the Commission, which is performing such acrobatic stunts trying to satisfy all sides, will not satisfy anyone, and least of all the Jewish side,” says the “Day.”

It is impossible for Jews to be satisfied with the declaration of the Commission that the riots were not planned in advance and that the Palestine government didn’t know of these plans, the “Day” says further, pointing out that three days before the outbreak of the riots, the entire Hebrew press of Palestine was full of reports about Arab preparations for an armed outbreak.

“If there is justice in England, the report of the Palestine Inquiry Commission will not be tolerated for a minute,” continues the “Day” editorial. “Already there are voices which cry out against this report. The Commission member who belongs to the Labor Party has come out against the conclusions of the majority in a separate minority report. Commander Kenworthy brands the report as partial and unjust. And these voices will grow in number and strength.

“Prime Minister MacDonald still has to say his word next Thursday in Parliament, and if we properly estimate this statesman, who himself has to thank his leadership to the sense of justice of the British people, will, we hope, characterize the report of his Commission as it deserves.”

“The first impression which one gets from the report of the Shaw Investigating Commission in Palestine is that it gives us the full disappointment that was predicted,” says J. Fishman in the “Morning Journal,” who believes that a new commission will now be appointed.

“Speaking of the notorious role that the Grand Mufti performed in the riots, the Commission does acrobatic stunts,” says Mr. Fishman. “It admits that he organized Moslem societies to incite against Jews with regard to the Wailing Wall question, but that he didn’t intend to cause riots. Nevertheless, the Commission says that since he and many others played upon the passions of the public, he must take upon himself part of the responsibility for the occurrences.”

Even worse, continues Mr. Fishman, is the fact that the Commission absolves the Palestine government from all blame for the riots. The testimony of Acting High Commissioner Luke himself, before the Commissioner, he says, should have been enough to condemn him and some of the officials under him. Mr. Fishman also criticizes the Commission for its conclusions with regard to the land and immigration questions.

“Fortunately,” he continues, “the influence of the Commission has been discounted from the very beginning. Besides, there is a minority report from Harry Snell, the Labor member, which does not agree with the extreme conclusions of the other members. And in spite of the fact that Snell is a minority in the committee, his party is the majority party in Parliament.

“The scene now shifts from the Commission to Parliament and the government,” concludes Mr. Fishman. “The debate in Parliament and the declarations of the Ministers will show whether England will carry out the Mandate or not.”