Arab Press Bitterly Disappointed at Breakdown of Negotiations While Jewish Papers Warn Against Unjus

Bitter disappointment at the breakdown of the negotiations between the Arab delegation in London and the British government is expressed by the Arabic press while the Hebrew press cautions the Jews against finding any cause for jubilation in the rebuff suffered by the Arabs.

The “Jamal Al Arabia,” organ of the Moslem Supreme Council, writes, “we knew that there should not be great hopes in the delegation because we know the attitude of imperialistic governments towards weak peoples. We know the injustice of the Westerners. We also knew the Zionist financial influence on the British government but we never imagined that the Zionist influence was so great. Our hopes for a just solution of the Palestine problem have been cut owing to Zionist influence. It is our duty now to reveal the whole injustice done to Palestine to the Arabic and Islamic worlds. All Arabs must unite in order to achieve their common aim.”

The Hebrew daily, “Ha’Aretz,” points out that “there is no occasion for jubilation. Nothing decisive has occurred. The Arab delegation stopped its negotiations obviously in order to influence the forthcoming Palestine debate in Parliament. The Arab delegation in its statement wilfully put the Palestine Arabs in the rank of Egypt and India in order to frighten the British man in the street, the taxpayer.

“It seems from the ‘Mokkatam’s’ report that the Colonial Office promised the Arab delegation too much. We must remind Great Britain and the whole world that there are 17,000,000 Jews who will never renounce their right to Palestine whether one intends to take it away officially or by practicing compromises.”

The Arab daily, “Falastin,” writes that “it is no surprise that Great Britain disregarded the Palestine Arabs after breaking off negotiations with Egypt and in view of her severe attitude towards India. British policy relying on military force therefore disregarded our claims.

“But she is mistaken. Great Britain will learn tomorrow, Palestine Day, and after that, that the Palestine Arabs are supported by the whole Arabic and Islamic worlds and that he lost by breaking off negotiations with the Arab delegation. The Jews will bring her to an abyss as they did Russia. The appointment of an expert in lands and immigration and the promise of some constitutional changes are worthless.”

“The British government could not act otherwise,” the Hebrew paper, “Doar Hayom,” writes, “because the Arabs demanded that Great Britain cancel the obligation signed by 52 nations. But we must not be too optimistic. Reality in Palestine teaches us that a solemn statement about the faithfulness of the Mandate is not as important as ways of carrying out the Mandate.

“The Arabs adopted the old method; whatever they were offered they expressed indignation and demanded more. They now open a new political offensive. Is the Zionist Executive ready?”