League Hits Britain for Refusing Data on Palestine

Great Britain’s refusal to supply information regarding the causes and the significance of the Palestine disorders yesterday met the criticism of the League of Nations mandates commission.

In a memorandum on the Palestine situation, the commission expressed the hope that the Mandatory Power would submit this information at the autumn session of the commission even though Britain “should not yet be in a position by that date to define its policy in the light of the proceedings of the Royal commission” appointed last month by the Baldwin Cabinet.

Britain based its declination upon the ground that governing regulations require her to report solely upon events of the preceding year.

The published minutes of the commission include the statement by Marquis Alberto Theodoli, its Italian chairman, referring to the strong stand taken by the League body during the 1929 Palestine riots which pressure caused Britain to present a report more swiftly.

Portuguese and Belgian members supported the Marquis in his statement Pierre Ortis, the Belgian representative, implied that England’s appointment of a Royal commission meant “stalling for time.”

“Perhaps, the Mandatory Power,” he said, “has been right in its decision, “but that power was not the only body concerned and the League could hardly agree that the appointment of a royal commission should be put forward as a reason for refusing to give information.

“The commission has already received numerous petitions as a result of the present disorders. Many more probably will come in. What would be-left of the right of petition if, in urgent and serious circumstances petitions were only examined more than a year after the events to which they referred? Would the apparent indifference on the part of the League be likely to calm the situation in Palestine or increase the League’s authority elsewhere?”