All Signs Point to New British Statement “explaining” Policy

All political signs here point to the issuance shortly of a new and “explanatory” document by the British government moderating to some extent the harshness manifested in its statement of policy on Palestine which has raised a storm of protest among Jews the world over and has elicited strong protests from leading non-Jewish statesmen in every country.

This is borne out by reports in the London press. Today’s News Chronicle says that the government is seriously disturbed by the resentment among the Jews throughout the world and that it intends to issue an “explanatory” statement which it is hoped will do something to quieten Jewish protests. In view of the forthcoming by-election in Whitechapel, where at least one-third of the electorate is Jewish, the explanation will be made soon.

Commenting editorially on the expected explanation, the News Chronicle says that it is not surprising that the government is preparing to issue a new statement of policy on Palestine. “Passfield’s now famous note was issued without being considered by the government,” the News Chronicle says, adding that it is “really astounding that a government department should have the power to issue a pronouncement of the utmost importance on an extremely delicate issue without the authority of the government whose fate might easily be determined by it.”