Conference Between Britain and Jewish Agency Leaders on Palestine Gets Started

The announced conference between representatives of the Jewish Agency and the British government regarding the interpretation of the Palestine Mandate and a discussion of the government’s Palestine policy is now under way in the foreign office with Arthur Henderson, Foreign Secretary, as chairman. The Jewish Agency is represented by members of its political committee, consisting of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, d’Avigdor Goldsmid, Dr. Selig Godetsky, M. Namier.

Although the conference is behind closed doors, the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, visiting the Foreign Office, was reliably informed that a preliminary list of questions prepared by the Jewish Agency Political Committee and placed before the conference for discussion included proposed changes in the text of the White Paper regarding the questions of immigration and land.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency also learns that after an understanding has been reached with the Jews the government intends to initiate negotiations with the Arabs so that any possible changes in the text of the White Paper will probably be submitted for consideration to the Arabs also.

This information coming from reliable sources is borne out by the statements of Dr. Drummond Shiels and Prime Minister MacDonald, who hinted during yesterday’s Parliamentary debate on Palestine that “at present the government is consulting Jewish representatives and will be only too glad to keep in similar touch with the Arabs.”