A commission of inquiry headed by Sir Walter Shaw and comprised in addition of three members of Parliament representing the three English political parties, will proceed to Palestine this month, declared a statement issued today by the British Colonial Office. The British government in the statement of its Colonial Office made it clear that the government has no idea of reconsidering the British tenure of the Mandate for Palestine and no inquiry is contemplated which might alter the position of Great Britain in regard to the Palestine Mandate or the policy laid down in the Balfour Declaration and in the Palestine Mandate for the establishment in Palestine of a National Home for the Jews.
The statement read as follows:
“Instructions were issued some days ago by the Palestine government for the collection of evidence, before it disappeared, as to whether the disorders which commenced on the twenty-third of August were spontaneous or preconcerted.
“In the meantime, while His Majesty’s forces are actively cooperating with the Palestine government for restoring order, energetic steps are being taken by the civil authorities to bring to trial the guilty individuals. Many arrests were made and considerable progress has already been made in dealing with summary cases. Special measures taken provide for impartial tribunals to cope with what will probably be a large number of cases.
“At the request of the High Commissioner, the Secretary of (Continued on Page 2)
“In view of suggestions which have been made in certain quarters, the Secretary of State desires to make it clear that the government has no idea of reconsidering the British tenure of the Mandate for Palestine and that no inquiry is contemplated which might alter the position of the country with regard to the Mandate or the policy laid down in the Baliour Declaration of 1917 and embodied in the Mandate of establishing in Palestine a national home for the Jews.
“The inquiry now initiated, therefore, is limited to the immediate emergency and will not extend to considerations of major policy. When its report has been received it will be a matter of earnest consideration by His Majesty’s government along what lines within the terms of the Mandate, the future policy in Palestine should be directed,” the Colonial Office statement declared.
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