Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

British Press Divided on Future Role to Be Played by Government in Palestine

September 4, 1929
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

The Jewish National Home has come to stay, what ever the Arabs and all Islam may think. There can be no change in British policy in that respect. This is the opinion expressed editorially by the “Manchester Guardian.”

Discussing the grave responsibility which rests on the British government and the Palestine administration, for the events in Palestine, the paper demands the setting up of a board of inquiry to ascertain to what extent British negligence is to be blamed for the grave occurrences in Palestine.

Under the heading “Pogrom in Palestine,” the “Guardian” recalls the centuries old sufferings of the Jews in Russia and other East European countries. That there should have been a recurrence of these sufferings in Palestine of all places is astounding, it continues. The incredible has happened. The tragic force of such an utterance can be understood by the whole world, it says.

Urging the settlement of the Wailing Wall dispute, the paper continues to say that events have shown that the problem is one of protecting the Jews further from the Arabs.

The “Daily Express,” the “Daily Telegraph” and the “Morning Post,” of London, continue to comment editorially on the situation presented by the Arab onslaught against the Jews.

Contrasting with the opinion expressed by the “Manchester Guardian” is the viewpoint of the “Daily Express.” Withdrawal of the British Mandate is urged by the “Express,” pointing out that such a step would ease the burden of the taxpayers. The money saved by Snowden at the Hague is spent in two days for the maintenance of military forces in Palestine, it states.

The re-establishment of a British gendarmerie is suggested by the “Daily Telegraph.” Commenting on President Hoover’s faith in the British government, and regretting that the situation in Palestine is not yet in hand, the “Telegraph” points out that it is the duty of the British government to protect the lives of the Palestine populace.

It is not enough to convict the offenders. The responsibility must be placed where it belongs, it maintains.

The Jewish population here is painfully surprised by the attitude displayed by the “Daily Herald,” Socialist paper. The newspaper publishes more Arab news than Jewish news, placing the accounts of the Palestine events inconspicuously on an inside page.

CRITICIZES “DAILY HERALD”

Criticism of what it calls the “Daily Herald’s” attempts to blanket the events in Palestine is made editorially by the “Morning Post” of London. No party differences are possible, as to the action necessary, it states. The Mandate’s obligations must be fulfilled, it states.

While the situation is apparently under control, it is impossible to say that it is over. The conflagration has the capacity of spreading like a prairie fire.

The Palestine situation is indirectly related to recent events in Egypt, it contends. The dismissal of Lord Lloyd, it says, has affected the Palestine situation. It urges the government to reconsider its policy in Egypt. The same dangerous possibilities as recent events in Palestine have disclosed are latent in Egypt, if British control is withdrawn. It is unfortunate that the Near East is divided between the Foreign Office, the India Office, the Colonial Office and the War Office. Thus the Near East is one problem, whether it be Egypt or Palestine.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement