London Perturbed over Palestine, but New Legislation is Not Expected

DESPITE OFFICIAL ASSERTIONS TO THE CONTRARY, THE PRESENT SITUATION IN PALESTINE IS CAUSING ANXIETY IN GOVERNMENT CIRCLES, IT WAS LEARNED TODAY, BUT NO NEW LEGISLATION CONCERNING PALESTINE IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED AT THIS PARLIAMENTARY SESSION.

THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY DETERMINED NOT TO MAKE AN ADVANCE IN ANY DIRECTION–INCLUDING ITS PROPOSED PARTITION OF PALESTINE–UNTIL ORDER IS RESTORED. FOR THE TIME BEING IT WILL NOT SEND A NEW COMMISSION TO THE HOLY LAND TO FRAME A DETAILED PARTITION SCHEME, BUT WILL STICK TO THE REPORT OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION.

GROUND EXISTS, HOWEVER, FOR STATING THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSCIOUS THAT GRAVE ERRORS HAVE BEEN COMMITTED IN THE PAST. DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AMONG GOVERNMENT MEMBERS ARE ALSO IN EVIDENCE.

THE FULL TRUTH REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT’S ATTITUDE TO THE MUFTI OF JERUSALEM, WHO HAS FLED TO SYRIA, HAS NOT YET BEEN REVEALED. IT IS UNDERSTOOD SOME EFFORTS WERE MADE AS EARLY AS LAST YEAR TO END THE MUFTI’S ACTIVITIES, BUT THAT THEY MISCARRIED.

THERE IS DISSATISFACTION IN PARLIAMENTARY CIRCLES WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTINUED REFUSAL TO INSTITUTE MARTIAL LAW IN THE HOLY LAND, AND ALSO SOME IRRITATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S FAILURE TO REVEAL THE FACTS OF FOREIGN PROPAGANDA IN PALESTINE AND THE SOURCES FROM WHICH MONEY IS SUPPLIED TO THE ARABS.

THE RECENT STATEMENT IN COMMONS OF WILLIAM G.A. ORMSBY-GORE, COLONIAL SECRETARY, THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW CONVINCED THE MUFTI IS AN ENEMY OF ENGLAND IS CONSIDERED BY SOME PARLIAMENTARY CIRCLES AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

PROCEED WITH PARTITION, WEEKLY URGES

ECONOMIST, IMPORTANT BRITISH WEEKLY, IN AN ARTICLE ON “VIOLENCE IN PALESTINE,” URGES THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED WITH PARTITION OF THE COUNTRY AS THE “ONLY HOPE OF A HAPPY ISSUE FROM THE PRESENT AFFLICTION.”

POINTING OUT THAT ENGLAND HAS TRIED HITHERTO TO SECURE CONCURRENCE OF JEWS AND ARABS TO PARTITION, THE PERIODICAL SUGGESTS THE FOLLOWING COURSE OF ACTION IF AN AGREEMENT IS IMPOSSIBLE.

“DEMARCATE THE PROPOSED THREE AREAS OURSELVES, INAUGURATE THE NEW MANDATORY REGIME IN THE RESIDUE OF THE MANDATED TERRITORY, AND HOLD OURSELVES READY TO HAND AUTHORITY IN THE AREAS EARMARKED FOR JEWISH AND ARAB STATES TO ANY NATIONAL AUTHORITIES ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE ABILITY TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.”