(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)
The report of the ###ent Mandates Commission of ### League of Nations on its ninth ses### held here last June has just been ### for distribution to the League’s ###ly which opens at the beginning ### month.
### regard to Palestine, the general ### of the report is one of satisfaction### with the policy of the Mandatory ###ment. In dealing with the vari### complaints made against the British admistration the opinion is expressed ### the explanations given by the Man### Government are adequate and ###tory, and that while it is recog### that the Jews are justified in de### the support for which provi### is made in the Palestine Mandate, ### Mandatory has acted wisely in not ###tating events and in endeavoring ###id serious conflicts between the ###sections of the population.It must be recognized,” says, for in###, M. Friere d’Andrade in his re### on the petition of the Vaad Leumi ###ish National Council of Palestine), ### the Mandatory Power has had ### serious difficulties to contend with ### establishing the Jewish Home in ###tine, owing to the opposition of ###great majority of the Arab popula### and that it has had to exercise ### tact and judgment to achieve the ### which have been obtained, with### having recourse to violent measures ### would have covered the country ### blood and ruins. Very great program has been made in the Administration of Palestine, and the wealth of the ### has visibly increased. The opp###tion of the great majority of the ###lation to the establishment of the ###ish Home has diminished, and it ### be hoped that the prospects of an ###erstanding which would be profit### to all concerned are now much ### favorable.”In its general observations the Commission states:
POLITICAL UNREST HAS DECREASED
“The Commission notes with satisfaction that political unrest in the country is decreasing and that order has been preserved in all parts of Palestine. The Commission does not doubt that the mandatory Power will always have at its disposal local forces capable, by their composition and number, of preventing any trouble which might constitute a menace for any part of the population.
“The Commission heard with satisfaction the statements of the accredited Representative regarding the policy of the Palestine Administration, as to the encouragement of local autonomy in accordance with Article 3 of the Mandate. It will follow with interest the measures taken to develop the elective system in the municipal organizations already existing. It also hopes that the next report will contain full information as regards the present organization and role of the different communities.
“While greatly appreciating the very clear and full statements made by the accredited Representative, the Commission would prefer in future to receive information in written form in reply to observations made by the Commission at its last session, in order that such information may be carefully studied before the meeting. This would make it possible to limit the number of questions put to the accredited Representative.”
There are also a number of special observations, to wit:
SPECIAL OBSERVATIONS ON LAND, LABOR, EDUCATION, PUBLIC FINANCE
1. “Land Tenure–The Commission trusts that every effort will be made to hasten the survey, the completion of which will be of the utmost importance for the general development of Palestine and in particular for the establishment of the Jewish National Home.
“The Commission hopes that means may soon be found to utilize to the full the possibilities of the land in the Beisan area.
2. “Labor–The Commission regrets that it has not received the information concerning the conditions of Labor in Palestine and the legislative and administrative action in this field which it asked for in the Report on its Seventh Session. Whilst recognizing the difficulties with which the Administration is faced in this connection, the Commission believes that well-conceived legislation is now necessary and will prove to be highly beneficial. It therefore welcomes the announcement of forthcoming enactments for the regulation of certain labor conditions, and will receive with interest full information concerning the composition and the results of the work of the Standing Committee on Labor.
3. “Education–The Commission notes with satisfaction that the Administration considers a reform in the organization of educational work in the country to be a matter of urgency, and would be glad to find in the next report a full statement of the outlines of the contemplated reorganization.
4. “Public Finance–The Commission notes the information given as regards public finance and the funds placed at the disposal of the Palestine Government by the mandatory power, but hopes that next year’s report will contain fuller explanations on this subject.”
On the subject of the petition submitted by the Palestine Arab Executive, the Rapporteur, M. Palacios, in his report, takes the view that since last year when the Commission decided to postpone any final decision on this matter because it could not make any adequate recommendations on so complex and delicate a subject on the sole basis of written documents, the Commission has received no further information, and the situation, so far as the Commission is concerned, has not changed since last year.
“In respect to this question, our discussions, our agreements, our differences of opinion and our decisions, would perhaps not differ greatly from those already recorded in the previous minutes and resolutions.
“In the most recent petition,” he proceeds, “the Executive Committee of the Arab Congress for the first time does not take up an attitude of radical and total opposition to the Mandate, but merely complains of the alleged nonapplication of part of that Mandate. This is a point of importance and should be appreciated, for from the point of view of one who wishes to see the Mandate strictly observed, I consider it a definite step forward.”
In the conclusions submitted by M. Palacios and adopted by the Mandates Commission it is said:
(a) “The Commission hopes to receive from the mandatory Power the promised documents with regard to the Ruttenberg concessions. Nevertheless, it agrees with the mandatory Power in considering that the technical and financial importance of enterprises of this type, and particularly the undoubted advantages of all kinds which they involve for all classes of the population, justify the Central Authority in reserving to itself full liberty of action. It is, however, desirable that concessions of this kind should be given the fullest publicity, and that sufficient time should be allowed and such definite rules be applied as to adoid adverse criticism.
(b) “As regards the salt concessions, the Commission takes note of the new general regulations which have been issued and of the Mandatory Power’s intention of observing the strictest equality between those interested as soon as the present concession has expired.
(c) “The Commission notes with satisfaction the accredited Representative’s explanation regarding the arrangements made and the progress achieved in the matter of the Kabbara concession.
(d) “As regards the complaints of the petitioners in the matter of elections the representative bodies and local autonomy, the Commission was glad to note the accredited Representative’s statement to the effect that the Arab section of the population is gradually abandoning its attitude of non-cooperation with the Mandatory Power. It should, in consequence, become increasingly easy to find suitable persons to take part in the work of the representative bodies.
(e) “The Commission has noted that the complaints concerning the alleged inquisitorial methods of the police and the prison system have now ceased to have any foundation.
(f) “The Commission considers that the reform of the civil and penal legislation is fully justified in the interests of the population and that it is being carried out with all possible regard to the principles of the Sharia.
(g) “While renewing the recommendations already made on the subject of Jewish immigration, the Commission takes note of the accredited Representative’s explanations. It hopes that the immigration will continue to be in proportion to the country’s power of absorption on the land.”
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