Immigration without artificial restriction, the creation of a Jewish civilization without disturbing Arab civilization and the desire to be a majority of the population without dominating the minority are the hopes of the Jews in connection with the establishment of a Jewish National Home in Palestine, declared Harry Sacher, chairman of the Palestine Zionist Executive, who yesterday took the witness stand before the Inquiry Commission hearing.
That the Arabs are as anti-British as they are anti-Jewish and that Arab leaders had suggested to him that an Arab-Jewish alliance was the best way to get rid of the British, was charged by Sacher in the course of his cross-examination by the Arab counsel, Stoker. He pointed to Auni Abdul Hadi, assistant Arab counsel who, Sacher said, had been one of those making the suggestion.
Challenged by Commissioner Hopkin Morris to explain what the Jewish National Home is, Sacher, often criticized in Zionist circles as “cold-blooded,” began an unexpected epitome of Zionism and in defining the Jewish National Home explained that it is the policy of allowing the Jews to immigrate, to develop the country, and to create a Jewish civilization which would express true Jewish genius. Turning the Commission, he declared: “Perhaps you will permit me to state what is Zionism. Palestine is of no significance to humanity except as it is associated with the Jewish people.”
The trembling voice of the witness fell on a hushed courtroom as he continued:
“It is said that the Arabs have lived here undisturbed for thirteen hundred years. But during this period, the country had not made a single contribution to the world. Its contribution arose through the Jews. We bred in this country prophets and teachers, and up to now, this has been the significance of Palestine to a civilized world.
“There came a time when the Jews were driven out. We ceased to be a state but never ceased to be a nation. In the two thousand long years, there has not been a moment when the Jews have not yearned to return to Palestine. We have not come here to make money, but to ease our souls and make our contribution to humanity.
“It may be pride,” the witness continued, “it may be vanity, but there is not one of us who does not think we will be of value, to ourselves and to the Arabs. We do not wish to interfere with the Arab civilization. We (Continued on Page 4)
At this moment. Lloyd, of the Col### Office secretary of the Commissioner, handed Commissioner Morris a document-the White Paper. From this Morris read the portion which states “the Jews have no intention of subordinating the Arabs or making them disappear.” “I accept it fully, without qualification,” Sacher said. We accept the second part of the Balfour Declaration as unequivocally as we do the first.”
To what extent are you responsible for you Weislis views.” asked Commissioner Saell. “About as responsible as any government is for its opposition.” retorted Sacher amidst laughter.
Enumerating the steps he recommended to prevent future outbreaks. Sacher said, “The Arab must be educated to realize that he must not use violence to bring about changes which he desires. The Palestine Mandate must be carried out in letter and spirit-that is that is the first condition on which the security of the future is based. British officials should be specially trained regarding the peculiar charcter of the Mandate.”
Commissioner Waltes Shaw interrupted to ask sarcastically: “How should they be trained-by lectures of the Zionist Organization?” Sacher expressed astonishment at Shaw’s question, saying that the Colonial Office as he had remarked before, should train them.
NATIONAL HOME WITHOUT INJURY TO ARABS
The dynamic part of the Mandate, the witness stated was that the Jewish National Home. It is stipulated, must be fulfilled without political, religious or civil injury to the Arabs. A policy such as he recommended, the witness stated would require courage and imagination but he insisted, was {SPAN}###{/SPAN} exceptionally difficult.
“The dispute over the Walling Wall is not a religious conflict.” the witness steed, “but a dispute over religious rights on the one hand and property rights on the other.” He recommended an early decision on what he termed the miserable Wailing Wall dispute.”
Here the Commissioners joined in a discussion as to which part of the Balfour Declaration was most important, and to what extent a policy such as Sooner recommended would prevent self-government. Sather reminded the Commission that while the Arabs conducted a boycott policy, the Jews alone accepted the Legislative Council in 1925. I would have recommended such a council with greater confidence before the riots.” the witness averred. I hesitate to do so now after the wholesale murders. To do so, so soon after the outrages, exposes as to the danger of people saying that the only way to obtain things in Palestine is through murder and violence.”
Viscount Erieigh, counsel for the Jews, reminded the Commission that High Commissioner Chancellor had suspended discussion about constitutional changes following the outbreaks.
WOULD REGULATE ARAB PRESS
Sacher told the Commission that note was more anxious to establish machinery to settle the question of the dispute over the Wailing Wall than the High Commissioner. Among his other recommendations he included a plea for regulation of the Arab press, which he called “the most mendacious, violent and libelous in the world.” He urged that the anti-sedition law be enforced, that the secret service be improved that the number of police be increased by adding more British and Jews to the force, which he said, should be reorganized.
“The French in Syria.” said Sacher, maintain a large garrison-so should we in Palestine. The Mandatory power has not been generous. We have been made to pay a considerable portion of the Ottoman public debt-more than Turkey paid itself. Palestine has been charged excessively for railways, and the treasury has been raided to pay a £200,000 military war debt.
GIVE JEWISH COLONIES DEFENCE MEANS
“Give the Jewish colonies a means of defence against sudden raids.” the witness urged. “Enroll special constables as a reserve for emergency.”
Previous to listing his recommendations for avoiding future outbreaks Sacher mentioned what in his mind were the prime causes of the riots. The Arab belief that the British were unsympathetic to the idea of a Jewish National Home, he declared, caused them to conspire to create a situation which they hoped, would succeed in bringing about the reversal of the British policy and a withdrawal of the Balicur Declaration. He stated, too that the Palestine Government was singularly unwise and unskillful in handling the situation at the Walling Wall.
“When troubles came.” the witness said, “the Government should have realized that its first duty was to check the riots immediately in Jerusalem to prevent the Spread to other parts of the country. If they were preconcerted the Government should have been aware of it. The disturbances in Jerusalem should have been handled with vigor and resolution.”
The Arabs, the witness declared, had created a state of mind wherein people were ready for murder and worse, while the rest of the country awaited the result of the riots in Jerusalem.
BRITISH OFFICIALS UNSYMPATHETIC TO ZIONISM
In cross-examination by Stoker, counsel for the Arabs, Sacher reiterated his belief that the bulk of British officials were popular with the Arabs because they were unsympathetic to Zionism. “The Arabs, however, are as anti-British as they are anti-Jewish, and the Zionists only constitute a lightning conductor against British rule,” the witness stated. He cited conversations with Arabs who suggested that the best way to get rid of the British was for the Arabs and Jews to unite.
“Did you believe the Arabs who said this?” asked Stoker. “It is very difficult to believe what any Arab says,” replied the witness. Asked to name any Arab who suggested the Jewish-Arab alliance. Sacher electrified the court by pointing to Auni Abdul Hadi, assistant Arab counsel, and saying. “He, for one.”
“I positively deny this,” shouted Auni, jumping up and waving his anns frantically. Paying little attention to him Sacher continued to explain that the Jews had no interest in using the Arabs to help them gain the Jewish National Home. The Arabs, however, he stated, dream of an Arab empire and would like to have the Jews help them to a realization of this ambition. “We never reached the stage of negotiations,” Sacher testified, “because you can’t negotiate unless both sides are willing, and we Jews were not interested.”
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