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THIS DOCtMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
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158
C P . (i+6). 17.5
'26th April, 19U6
CABINET
PALESTINE Note by.the Additional Secretary of the Cabinet I circulate herewith the text of the Report of the Anglo-American-Commission on Palestine. (Signed) NORMAN BROOK Cabinet Office, S.W.I.*
2 6 t h April, 191+6.
ANGLO-AMERICAN COMMITTEE OP INQUIRY
REPORT TO The united States
Government
Lausanne, S-vvitzerland 20 th April, 1946. His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom P R E F A C E
^
^
We were appointed by the Government of the United States and of the United Kingdom, as a joint body of American and British member ­
ship, with the following Terms of Reference:­
1,
To examine political, economic and social conditions in Palestine as they bear upon the problem of Jewish immigration and settlement therein and the well-being of the peoples-now living therein, 2*
To examine the position of the Jews in those countries, in Europe where they have been the victims of Nazi and Fascist persecution, and the practical measures taken or contemplated to , be taken in those countries to enable them to live free from discrimination and oppression and to make estimates of those who wish or will be impelled by their conditions to migrate to Palestine or other countries outside Europe. 3,
To hear the views of competent witnesses and to consult representative Arabs and Jews on the problems of Palestine as such problems . are affected by conditions subject to examination under paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 above and by other relevant facts and circumstances, and to make roconrnendations to His-
Majesty s Government and the Government of the United States for 1
ad interim handling of these problems as well as for their permanent solution. 4.
To make such other recommendations to His Majcsty's Government and the Government of the United States as may be necessary to meet the uanediate needs prising from conditions subject to examination under paragraph 2 above, by remedial action in the European countries in question or by the provision of facilities for emigration to and settlement in countries out­
side Europe. The Governments urged upon us the need for the utmost expedition in dealing with the subjects committed to us for investigation, and requested to be furnished with our Report within one hundred and "twenty days of the inception of our Inquiry. assembled in Washington on Friday, 4th January, 1946 and began / our -2-
(Prof nee)
bur..public sessions on the following Monday.
We soiled from the
United States on 18th January and resumed our public sessions in London
on 25th January, V/e left for Europe on 4th and 5th February, and,,
working, in Sub-Committees, proceeded, to our investigations in Germany,
Poland, Czecho-Slovakia, Austria, Italy and Greece.
On 28th February
we flew to Cairo and, after sessions there, reached Jerusalem on
6th March.
In Palestine our sessions, were interspersed with personal
visits to different parts of the country, during which we sought to
acquaint ourselves at first hand, with its various characteristics and
the Ways of life of its inhabitants.
Sub-Conmittees visited the
capitals of Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi-Arabia and Trans-Jordan to
he r the views of the Arab Governments and representatives of bodies
a
concerned with the subjects before us. We left Palestine on 28th March and have concluded our deliberations in Switzerland,
detailed itinerary is shown in Appendix 1. We now submit the folio-fling Report. The
PART 1
C H A P T E R
1
RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMENTS.
THE EUROPEAN
PROBLEM
i
RECOMMEND ATI QST N o . 1
WE
HAVE TO REPORT THAT SUCH INFORMATION
AS WE RECEIVED ABOUT COUNTRIES OTHER THAN PALESTINE GAVE NO
HOPE OF SUBSTANTIAL ASSISTANCE IN FINDING HOMES FOR JEWS WISHING
OR IMPELLED TO LEAVE EUROPE.
BUT PAIK5TINE .ALGNE CANNOT MEET THE EMIGRATION NEEDS OF THE
JEWISH VICTIMS OF NAZI AND FASCIST PERSECUTION.
THE WHOLE
WORLD SHARES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM AND INDEED FOR THE R&.
SETTLEMENT OF ALL "DISPLACED PERSONS. "
WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT OUT GOVERNMENTS TOGETHER, AND
IN ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES, SHOULD ENDEAVOUR IMMEDIATELY
TO FIND NEW HOMES FOR ALL SUCH "DISPLACED PERSONS", IRRESPECTIVE
OF CREED OR NATIONALITY, WHOSE TIES WITH THEIR FORMER COMMUNITIES HAVE BEM IRREPARABLY BROKEN.
THOUGH EMIGRATION WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEMS OF SOME VICTIMS
OF PERSECUTION, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, INCLUDING A CCNSIDERABLE NUMBER OF JEWS, WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE IN EUROPE.
WE RECOMMEND THEREFORE THAT OUR GOVERNMENTS ENDEAVOUR TO SECURE
THAT IMMEDIATE EFFECT I S GIVEN TO THE PROVISION OF THE UNITED
NATIONS CHARTER CALLING FOR "UNIVERSAL RESPECT FOR, AND.
OBSERVANCE OF, HUMAN RIGHTS AND FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS FOR ALL
WITHOUT DISTINCTION AS TO RACE, SEX, LANGUAGE, OR RELIGION. "
' COMMENT.
I n recommending t h a t our Governments,
with other countries,
should endeavour
in
association
to f i n d new homes f o r
" d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s , " we do n o t s u g g e s t t h a t a n y c o u n t r y s h o u l d be
a s k e d t o make a p e r m a n e n t c h a n g e isx i t s i m m i g r a t i o n p o l i c y .
The
c o n d i t i o n s , w h i c h we h a v e seen i n E u r o p e , a r e u n p r e c e d e n t e d ,
and
so u n l i k e l y t o a r i s e a g a i n t h a t we a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t
special
p r o v i s i o n c o u l d and s h o u l d be made i n e x i s t i n g immigration,
to m e e t t h i s u n i q u e and p e c u l i a r l y d i s t r e s s i n g s i t u a t i o n .
/ F u r therraore
laws
V^CHAPTER. I .
Furthermore,
iri -regard t
Page 2 .
wo RELIEVO - - t h a t much c o u l d "be a c c o m p l i s h e d ' - ' p o r t i c u l a r l y
those -"displaced persons",
J
relatives i n countries
i n c l u d i n g Jews,
o u t s i d e Europe - b y a r e l a x a t i o n
:
regulations.
-'
frho have
of A d m i n i s t r a t i v e
:
Our i n v e s t i g a t i o n s - ' h a v e ' l e d u s t o b e l i e v e t h a t a c o n s i d e r a b l e
number, of J e w s m i l c o n t i n u e t o l i v e i n m o s t E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s .
In­
:
o u r v i e w t h e m a s s e m i g r a t i o n of " a l l E u r o p e a n Jews wouldvbe- '- of s e r v i c e
n e i t h e r t o t h e Jews t h e m s e l v e s n o r t 5 E u r o p e .
Every e f f o r t
s h o u l d BO
made t o e n a b l e t h e Jews t o r e b u i l d t h e i r " s h a t t e r e d c o m m u n i t i e s , "while
!
p e r m i t t i n g t h o s e J e w s ; WHO w i s h t o ' do s o , t o ' e m i g r a t e . .
achieve t h i s , r e s t i t u t i o n
In order t o
of J e w i s h l a - o p e r t y s h o u l d b e e f f e c t e d
a s soon
AS p o s s i b l e .......Our i n v e s t i g a t i o n s - ' - " s h owe'd u s t h a t t h o G o v e r n m e n t s
chiefly
:
c o n c c m c t l h a d f o r . t h e m o s t p a r t - a l r e a d y p a s s e d l e g i s l a t i o n TO t h i s e n d .
A real
o b s t a c l e - , . however,
t o give e f f e c t
SEMITISM.
TO i n d i v i d u a l ' r e s t i t u t i o n
i s t h a t t h o attempt­
t o t h i s l e g i s l a t i o n i s f r e q u e n t l y a c a u s e of a c t i v e
T/q s u g g e s t t h a t ,
commuhities,, r e s t i t u t i o n
f o r t h e r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h o J e w i s h ­
of t h e i r c o r p o r a t e p r o p e r t y ,
e i t h e r jshrougti'
r e p a r a t i o n s p a y m e n t s o r t h r o u g h other.-means-,' i s of t h e f i r s t
N a z i o c c u p a t i o n has- l e f t
importance.
b e h i n d i t a l e g a c y of - a n t i - S e m i t i s m . ' T h i s
c a n n o t b e c o m b a t e d by l e g i s l a t i o n
alone.
The o n l y r e a l l y
a n t i d o t e s a r c t h e . e n f o r c e m e n t b y e a c h Government
liberties-and equal rights,
anti-
effective
of g u a r a n t e e d
civil
a programme of e d u c a t i o n i n t h e p o s i t i v e
;
­
p r i n c i p l e s of d e m o c r a c y , ' t h o s a n c t i o n of :-a s t r o n g w o r l d p u b l i c o p i n i o n ­
combined w i t h . e c o n o m i c r e c o v e r y a n d s t a b i l i t y .
.,
'-'-::'
IgOGEE
SigCRATION
RECOMMENDATION^ No .1-2;-, . . WE MCWMKI
LIP
AUTHORISED IMMEDIATELY FOR' THE ADMISSION INTO PALESTINE OF JE1-7S M O HAVE
-
—
' (A) THAT 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 CERTIFICATES BE
JUSTINE
BEEN THE VICTIMS OF NAZI AND FASCIST PERSECUTION;
(B) THAT THESE CERT-
TFICATES BE AWARDED AS FAR AS. POSSIBLE IN 1 9 4 6 AND THAT ACTUAL EMIGRATION
BE PUSHED FORWARD AS RAPIDLY AS -CONDITIONS WILL PERMIT. ­
COMMENT.
. .;-
---
-
:
­
- The numbor of J e w i s h s u r v i v o r s of N a z i and F a s c i s t
Hi
persecution
with-whom we have t o d e a l f o r e x c e e d s 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 ; i n d e e d t h e s e a r e more­
/than
that
CHAPTER
I
Page
5
t h a n t h a t number i n Germany; A u s t r i a and I t a l y a l o n e ^
a-year, has p a s s e d s i n c e t h e i r l i b e r a t i o n ,
Although n e a r l y
the m a j o r i t y of t h o s e i n
Germany and A u s t r i a a r e still l i v i n g i n a s s e m b l y c e n t r e s ,
the so-called
" c a m p s " , i s l a n d c o m m u n i t i e s i n t h e m i d s t of t h o s e at "whose h a n d s
suffered
they
s o much.
In t h e i r i n t e r e s t s
and i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of E u r o p e ,
s h o u l d be c l o s e d and t h e i r camp l i f e
ended.
r e a s o n s f o r wishing t o leave Europe.
their families
the centres
Most o f them have c o g e n t
Many a r e t h e s o l e s u r v i v o r s of
a n d few h a v e a n y t i e s b i n d i n g tliem t o t h e c o u n t r i e s i n
which t h e y used to l i v e .
-Since
t h e e n d of h o s t i l i t i e s ^
their r e - s e t t l e m e n t elsewhere.
l i t t l e h a s b e e n done t o xorovide f o r
Immigration l a w s and r e s t r i c t i o n s b a r
t h e i r e n t r y t o m o s t c o u n t r i e s and much t i m e m u s t p a s s b e f o r e s u c h l a w s
and r e s t r i c t i o n s c a n b e a l t e r e d a n d e f f e c t g i v e n t o t h e a l t e r a t i o n s .
Some c a n go t o c o u n t r i e s w h e r e t h e y h a v e r e l a t i v e s ;
inclusion in c e r t a i n
quotas.
o t h e r s may s e c u r e
T h e i r number i s c o m p a r a t i v e l y
small.
We knovj of n o c o u n t r y t o w h i c h t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y can go i n t h e
immediate f u t u r e
o t h e r than P a l e s t i n e , .
all of t h e m Want t o g o .
almost
T h e r e t h e y a r e s u r e t h a t t h e y "Will r e c e i v e a
welcome d e n i e d them e l s e w h e r e .
.build their
F j j r t h e r m o r e that, i s w h e r e
T h e r e t h e y hope t o e n j o y p e a c e a n d r e ­
lives.
We b e l i e v e i t i s e s s e n t i a l
t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e g i v e n an o p p o r t u n i t y
t o do s o a t t h e e a r l i e s t p o s s i b l e
of t h e l e a d e r s
time.
F u r t h e r m o r e we have t h e a s s u r a n c
of t h e J e w i s h Agency t h a t t h e y w i l l be s u p p o r t e d and c a r e d
for.
We recommend t h e a u t h o r i s a t i o n
for
and i s s u e of 1 0 0 , 0 0 0
t h e s e r e a s o n s a n d b e c a u s e we f e e l
have a most s a l u t a r y e f f e c t
that their
upon the w h o l e
certificates immediate i s s u e
will situation. I n t h e a w a r d i n g of t h e s e c e r t i f i c a t e s p r i o r i t y s h o u l d a s f a r a s .
p o s s i b l e be g i v e n
Germany
to those, in the c e n t r e s ,
and t o t h o s e l i b e r a t e d
in
a n d A u s t r i a who a r e n o l o n g e r i n t h e c e n t r e s b u t r e m a i n i n
countries.
those
We do n o t d e s i r e t h a t o t h e r J e w i s h v i c t i m s who w i s h o r w i l l
be i m p e l l e d by t h e i r c i r c u m s t a n c e s to l e a v e t h e c o u n t r i e s where
they
now a r e , or t h a t t h o s e who f l e d from p e r s e c u t i o n b e f o r e t h e . o u t b r e a k
of w a r , s h o u l d be e x c l u d e d . W e a p p r e c i a t e t h a t t h e r e w i l l be
i n d e c i d i n g q u e s t i o n s of p r i o r i t y ,
far
difficulty
b u t n o n e t h e l e s s we u r g e t h a t so
a s p o s s i b l e s u c h a s y s t e m s h o u l d be a d h e r e d t o , and t h a t ,
in apply­
i n g i t , p r i m a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s h o u l d be g i v e n t o t h e aged and i n f i r m ,
/to the. . , .
CHAPTER
t o t h e v e r y y o u n g and a l s o
I
Pege L
to s k i l l e d workmen whose s e r v i c e s w i l l he
n e e d e d f o r many m o n t h s on work r e n d e r e d n e c e s s a r y "by t h e l a r g e
It
s h o u l d he made c l e a r
certificate- is
Receiving
We f e e l
t h a t n o a d v a n t a g e i n t h e o b t a i n i n g of a
t o be g a i n e d by m i g r a t i n g from one c o u n t r y t o
o r by e n t e r i n g P a l e s t i n e
influx.
another,
illegally.
so l a r g e a number w i l l b e a h e a v y b u r d e n on P a l e s t i n e ,
s u r e t h a t t h e a u t h o r i t i e s w i l l s h o u l d e r i t and t h a t t h e y w i l l
have the f u l l c o - o p e r a t i o n
of t h e J e w i s h Agency.
D i f f i c u l t problems w i l l c o n f r o n t t h o s e r e s p o n s i b l e for
a n d c a r r y i n g o u t t h e movement.
organising
The many o r g a n i s a t i o n s - p u b l i c
and
p r i v a t e - working in Europe w i l l c e r t a i n l y r e n d e r
a l l the a i d they con;
we m e n t i o n UNRRA e s p e c i a l l y ;
throughout i s
We a r e s u r e t h a t
C o - o p e r a t i o n by a l l
t h e G o v e r n m e n t of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , w h i c h h a s
shown s u c h k e e n i n t e r e s t i n
this matter, will participate
and g e n e r o u s l y w i t h t h e G o v e r n m e n t of G r e a t B r i t a i n
T h e r e a r e many -ways i n w h i c h h e l p can be g i v e n ,
Those who h a v e o p p o s e d t h e a d m i s s i o n
into Palestine
again,
to our c o n c l u s i o n ,
more
in i t s
fulfilment.
-.
these unfortunate
people
that
they
We hope t h a t t h e y w i l l l o o k upon the. s i t u a t i o n
that they w i l l appreciate
to h e l p ,
of
vigorously
s h o u l d know t h a t we h a v e f u l l y c o n s i d e r e d a l l
have p u t before us.
necessary.
t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s which/ h a v e l e d
and t h a t a b o v e a l l ,
if
us
t h e y c a n n o t see t h e i r w a y
a t l e a s t t h e y 7 / i l l n o t make t h e p o s i t i o n
of t h e s e
sufferers
difficult.
ffiMCIP.LES OP RECOMMENDATION N o . 5 .
IN ORDER TO DISPOSE, CNCE AND FOR ALL, OP THE
GOVERNMENT:
NO ARAB NO
JJLTSH STATE
T
EXCLUSIVE CLAIMS OF JEWS AND ARABS TO PALESTINE, WE REGARD I T AS
' ESSENTIAL THAT A CLEAR STATEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES SHOULD BE
MADE:
I.
THAT JEW SHALL NOT DOMINATE ARAB AND .ARAB SHALL NOT DOMINATE JEW
IN PALESTINE.
AN ARAB STATE.
II.
III.
THAT PALESTINE SHALL BE NEITHER A JEWISH STATE NOR
THAT THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT ULTIMATELY TO BE
ESTABLISHED, SHALL, UNDER INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES,. FULLY PROTECT AND
i. ,
PRESERVE THE INTERESTS IN THE HOLY LAND OF CHRISTENDOM AND OF THE MOSLEM
AND JEWISH FAITHS.
THUS. PALESTINE MUST ULTIMATELY BECOME A STATE WHICH GUARDS THE
RIGHTS AND INTERESTS OF MOSLEMS, JEWS AND CHRISTIANS ALIKE: AND ACCORDS
TO THE INHABITANTS, AS A WHOLE, THE' FULLEST MEASURE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT,
CONSISTENT WITH THE THREE PARAMOUNT PRINCIPLES SET FORTH ABOVE.
/CQMMMT.
CHAPTER, I.
Page
5-
COMMENT
' '.
T h r o u g h o u t t h e l o n g and b l o o d y s t r u g g l e
in Palestine,
each crying f i e r c e l y :
b r i e f reference in the Report
t o as the Peel Report)
received
Palestine
of t h e R o y a l "Commission ( h e r e i n a f t e r
referred
e v i d e n c e , w r i t t e n and - o r a l , t h a t we
on t h i s p o i n t - t h e g r e a t i n t e r e s t
We, t h e r e f o r e ,
dominance
" T h i s land', i s n i n e " - e x c e p t "for t h e
and t h e l i t t l e
has been completely
of Jew one! Arab f o r
of t h e C h r i s t i a n World I n
overlooked,- g l o s s e d o v e r or b r u s h e d
aside.
e m p h a t i c a l l y d e c l a r e t h a t P a l e s t i n e i s a H o l y Land,
sacred to Christian,
t o J e w a n d t o Moslem a l i k e ; and" b e c a u s e i t
Land, P a l e s t i n e i s n o t ,
i s a Holy
a n d can n e v e r b e c o m e , a l a n d which, any r a c e
or
r e l i g i o n can j u s t l y c l a i m a s i t s - v e r y own.
We f u r t h e r ,
t h e Holy Land,
it
i n t h e same e m p h a t i c way, a f f i r m t h a t t h e f a c t
that i t
s e t s P a l e s t i n e - c o m p l e t e l y a p a r t from other- l a n d s ,
t o t h e p r e c e p t s and p r a c t i c e s - of t h e B r o t h e r h o o d
is
and' d e d i c a
of Man; n o t t h o s e
J
of
narr-ow n a t i o n a l i s m ,
For a n o t h e r r e a s o n ,
its
h i s t o r y of t h e l a s t
in the l i g h t
of i t s l o n g h i s t o r y ,
thirty years, Palestine
a. p u r e l y Arab "or a p u r e l y J e w i s h
and
particularly
cannot be r e g a r d e d as e i t h e :
land.
The J e w s have a h i s t o r i c c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e c o u n t r y .
The J e w i s h
N a t i o n a l Home, t h o u g h e m b o d y i n g a. m i n o r i t y of t h e p o p u l a t i o n ,
r e a l i t y e s t a b l i s h e d ' under i n t e r n a t i o n a l
guarantee:.
It
i s t o d a y a.
has- a. r i g h t
to
c o n t i n u e d e x i s t e n c e , p r o t e c t i o n and d e v e l o p m e n t .
Yet P a l e s t i n e i s n o t , , and n e v e r c a n b e ,
a t t h e c r o s s r o a d s of t h e "Arab w o r l d .
long-time inhabitants
a purely Jewish land, , I t
I t s Arab p o p u l a t i o n ,
descended
of t h e a r e a , r i g h t l y l o o k upon P a l e s t i n e a s
lies
from
their
homeland.
I t i s t h e r e f o r e n e i t h e r j u s t nor p r a c t i c a b l e t h a t P a l e s t i n e
become e i t h e r an Arab S t a t e ,
d e s t i n y of a J e w i s h m i n o r i t y ,
should
i n w h i c h an Arab m a j o r i t y would c o n t r o l t h e .
or a J e w i s h S t a t e ,
w o u l d c o n t r o l t h a t o f an Arab m i n o r i t y .
in-which a Jewish
I n n e i t h e r c a s e would m i n o r i t y
guarantees afford adequate protection for the subordinated
A P a l e s t i n i a n p u t the natter- thus:
majority
"In the h e a r t s
group.-
of us Jews t h e r e
has
:
a l w a y s b e e n a f e a r t h a t , some day t h i s - c o u n t r y w o u l d b o t u r n e d i n t o an Arab
S t a t e a n d t h e A r a b s would - r u l e over, u s .
p r o p o r t i o n s of t e r r o r . . . .
t h e h e a r t s of A r a b s . . . .
over them".
This f e a r
has at t i m e s reached
Now t h i s same f e e l i n g of f e a r
fear-lest
1
the
has- s t a r t e d up i n
t h e j e w s a c q u i r e t h e ascendancy and r u l e
,^
/Palcstxne,
n
....
164
CHAPTERPalestine^
Pago 6.
t h e n , must "bo e s t a b l i s h e d
A v-x
as; a c o u n t r y i n which t h e
l e g i t i m a t e n a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s of b o t h J e w s and A r a b s can b e
w i t h o u t e i t h e r " ' s i d e f e a r i n g t h e a s c e n d a n c y of t h e o t h e r .
reconciled,
I n our v i e w
t h i s " c a n n o t b e done u n d e r any form of c o n s t i t u t i o n ; i n -which a mere
numerical majority i s decisive,
since i t i s p r e c i s e l y the
a n u m e r i c a l m a j o r i t y w h i c h b e d e v i l s Ar.ab-Jev.dsh r e l a t i o n s .
genuine self-government
for
To e n s u r e
f o r b o t h t h e Arab and t h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s ,
t h i s s t r u g g l e must be mo.de p u r p o s e l e s s by t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n
RECOMMEND AT I ON N o. 4 .
struggle
itself.
WE HAVE HEACHED THE CONCLUSION THAT THE HOSTILITY .
BETWEEN JEWS AND ARABS AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE DETERMINATION OF EACH TO
ACHIEVE DOMINATION, I P NECESSARY BY VIOLENCE, MAKE IT ALMOST CERTAIN THAT,
r
NOV. AND FOR SOME TIME TO COM3, ANY ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH EITHER AN INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATE OR INDEPENDENT PALESTINIAN STATES WOULD RESULT
IN CIVIL-STRIFE SUCH AS MIGHT THREATEN THE PEACE OF THE WORLD.
WE THERE-
FORE RECOMMEND THAT, UNTIL THIS HOSTILITY DISAPPEARS, THE GOVERNMENT OF PALESTINE BE CONTINUED AS AT PRESENT UNDER MANDATE PENDING THE EXECUTION ­
OF.A TRUSTEESHIP AGREEMENT
UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS.
COMMENT.
. We r e c o g n i s e ' t h a t i n v i e w of t h e p o w e r f u l f o r c e s b o t h Arab and
Jewish,
o p e r a t i n g from
Mandatory,
outside P a l e s t i n e ,
has not been easy,
t h e Mandate w a s u n w o r k a b l e ,
t h e t a s k of G r o a t B r i t a i n ,
Tho P e e l Commission d e c l a r e d I n 1937 t h a t
and t h e P e r m a n e n t M a n d a t e s Commission of t h e
League of N a t i o n s t h e r e u p o n p o i n t e d
o u t t h a t i t become a l m o s t u n w o r k a b l e
once i t was p u b l i c l y d e c l a r e d t o be so b y s u c h a b o d y .
t h e B r i t i s h Government,
Two y e a r s
h a v i n g come t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e
later
alternative
of P a r t i t i o n p r o p o s e d b y t h e P e e l Commission was a l s o u n w o r k a b l e ,
t h e i r i n t e n t i o n of t a k i n g s t e p s t o t e r m i n a t e t h e Mandate b y t h e
ment
as
of on i n d e p e n d e n t P a l e s t i n e S t a t e .
announced,
establish^
Our r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a r e b a s e d on
w h a t we b e l i e v e a t t h i s s t a g e t o be a s f a i r
a m e a s u r e of j u s t i c e t o
all
a s we can f i n d i n v i e w of what h a s gone b e f o r e and of. a l l t h a t h a s b e e n
done.
We r c c o r - m i s e t h a t t h e y a r e n o t i n a c c o r d w i t h t h e c l a i m s of
either
X:-'
p a r t y , and f u r t h e r m o r e t h a t t h e y i n v o l v e a d e p a r t u r e from t h e r e c e n t
of t h e M a n d a t o r y .
We r e c o g n i s e t h a t , i f t h e y a r e a d o p t e d , t h e y w i l l
a. l o n g p e r i o d
of t r u s t e e s h i p ,
w h i c h w i l l mean a v e r y h e a v y b u r d e n f o r any­
s i n g l e Government t o u n d e r t a k e , -a b u r d e n w h i c h would b e l i g h t e n e d i f
difficulties
were a p p r e c i a t e d a n d . t h e T r u s t e e
members of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .
policy
involve
.
had t h e s u p p o r t , of
/EQUALITY
the
other­
CHAPTER - I
flQHflLETY OF
ST/TOD ARDS. ­
REC OMMKND ATI ON
NO, 5,
;
-
Eo;;u
7
LOOKING TOWARDS A FORM OF ULTIMATE SELF-
gif
GOVERNMi']NT, CONSISTENT WITH THE THREE P R I N C I P L E LAID DOW IN
RECOMMENDATION NO, 3 , WE RECOMMEND THAT THE MANDATORY OR TRUSTEE SHOULD
... PROCLAIM THE PRINCIPLE THAT ARAB ECONOMIC. EDUCATIONAL AND POLITICAL
, ' oDVANOEMJiNT IN PALESTINE I S O P EQUAL IlvPQRTANCE WITH THAT OF THIS JEWS;
AND SHOULD AT ONCE PREPARE IfiASURES DESIGNED TO. BRIDGE THE GAP WHICH
NOW EXISTS AND RAISE THE ARAB
!
S C,£DARLJ
OF LIVING TO THAT OF TEE JEWS;
AND SO BRING THE W O PEOPLES TO A FULL APPRECIATION OF THEIR COMMON
INTEREST AND COMMON DESTINY P I THE LAND WHERE BOTH BELLNG.
- ' -
COMMENT,
Our e x a m i n a t i o n of c o n d i t i o n s i n P a l e s t i n e l e d u s t o t h e
t h a t one of t h e c h i e f c a u s e s of f r i c t i o n
i s the g r e a t d i s p a r i t y
t h e J e w i s h a n d A r a b s t a n d a r d s of l i v i n g . .
which brought considerable f i n a n c i a l
conclusion
between
Even u n d e r c o n d i t i o n s of w a r ,
b e n e f i t s t o the Arabs,
d i s p a r i t y h a s n o t been a p p r e c i a b l y r e d u c e d . ;
this
Only by a d e l i b e r a t e
and
c a r e f u l l y p l a n n e d p o l i c y on t h e p a r t of t h e M a n d a t o r y c a n t h e A r a b
s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g be r a i s e d t o t h a t of t h e J e w s t
need for
In s t r e s s i n g
s u c h a p o l i c y we w o u l d p a r t i c u l a r l y c a l l a t t e n t i o n
d i s c r e p a n c i e s between the s o c i a l s e r v i c e s ,
including
to
and
the
hospitals^
a v a i l a b l e i n P a l e s t i n e f o r J e w s -nd A r a b s .
We f u l l y r e c o g n i s e t h a t t h e J e w i s h s o c i a l s e r v i c e s a r e
'
.
financed
t o a v e r y g r e a t e x t e n t by t h e J e w i s h community i n P a l e s t i n e , w i t h
assistance
of. o u t s i d e J e w i s h o r g a n i s a t i o n s ;
and we w o u l d s t r e s s
the
that
n o t h i n g s h o u l d b e done w h i c h w o u l d b r i n g t h e s e s o c i a l s e r v i c e s , down
-Hie. l e v e l o f t h o s e p r o v i d e d ' - f o r t h e A r a b s ,
m e n t s now b e i n g made i n
or h a l t the c o n s t a n t
to
improve­
them,
We s u g g e s t t h a t c o n s i d e r a t i o n ' be g i v e n t o t h e a d v i s a b i l i t y
of
e n c o u r a g i n g t h e f o r m a t i o n b y t h e A r a b s of an A r a b -community on t h e
lines
of t h e J e w i s h community w h i c h now " l a r g e l y c o n t r o l s and f i n a n c e s
Jewish
eooial - s e r v i c e s . T h e A r a b s w i l l have t o r e l y ,
extent
than, t h e J e w s , on f i n a n c i a l
Palestine
to a f a r g r e a t e r
a i d from t h e Governments
But t h e J e w s of
s h o u l d a c c e p t t h e - n e c e s s i t y t h a t t a x a t i o n , r a i s e d from
both
J e w s and A r a b s , w i l l h a v e t o be rpe..vb v e r y l a r g e l y on t h e A r a b s i n
o r d e r t o b r i d g e t h e gap w h i c h , n o w e x i s t b . b e two on t h e s t a n d a r d of
l i v i n g o f t h e ttfo peoples.;,
.
/FUTURE...
CHAPTER
RECOMMENDATION
Mo. 6.
I
gage
8
WE. RECOMMEND THAT PENDING THE EARLY REEERENCE
TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE EXECUTION OF A TRUSTEESHIP AGREEMENT,.
THE MANDATORY SHOULD /DMNISTER PALESTINE ACCORDING TO THE MANDATE
WHICH DECLARES WITH REGARD TO . IMMIGRATE ON THAT "THE ADMINISTRATE ON OF
PALESTINE, WHILE ENSURING THAT THE RIGHTS AND POSITICN OF OTHER SECTIONS
OF THE POPULATION ARE NOT PREJUDICED, SHALL FACILITATE JEWISH IMMEGRATIGN UNDER SUITABLE CONDITIONS".
QOMMSNTj
We h a v e recommended t h e a d m i s s i o n of 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 i m m i g r a n t s , v i c t i m s
Nazi perseiution,
after
a s soon a s p o s s i b l e .
t h e admission
of
t h a t number.
of
We now d e a l W i t h t h e p o s i t i o n
We c a n n o t l o o k f a r i n t o t h e
We c a n n o t c o n s t r u c t a y a r d s t i c k f o r a n n u a l i m m i g r a t i o n .
s h i p A g r e e m e n t i s e x e c u t e d i t i s our c l e a r o p i n i o n
future.
Until a Trustee­
that Palestine
should
be a d m i n i s t e r e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e t e r m s of t h e Mandate q u o t e d
above.
Farther
t h a n t h a t we c a n n o t go i n t h e form of a r e c o m m e n d a t i o n .
In t h i s d i s o r d e r e d w o r l d s p e c u l a t i o n
a s t o t h e economic p o s i t i o n
a n y c o u n t r y a few y e a r s a h e a d w o u l d be a h a z a r d o u s p r o c e e d i n g .
particularly difficult
t o p r e d i c t what,
after
w i l l be t h e economic and p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n
that the p r e s e n t f r i c t i o n
of
It
is
a fe-fl y e a r s have p a s s e d ,
of P a l e s t i n e ,
We hope
and t u r b u l e n c e w i l l s o o n d i e away and be r e ­
p l a c e d by an e r a of ]oea*e, a b s e n t ' so l o n g from t h e Holy. Land;
tba t
Jew a n d Arab w i l l soon r e a l i s e
mutual
that collaboration
a d v a n t a g e , b u t no one can s a y how l o n g t h i s w i l l
The p o s s i b i l i t y
population
i s to t h e i r
take.
of t h e c o u n t r y s u s t a i n i n g a l a r g e l y
increased
a t a d e c e n t s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g d e p e n d s on i t s economic
w h i c h i n t u r n d e p e n d s l a r g e l y on w h e t h e r o r n o t p l a n s r e f e r r e d
Recommendation N o . 8 can be b r o u g h t t o
the
future,
to in
fruition.
The P e e l Commission s t a t e d t h a t p o l i t i c a l a s w e l l a s economic,
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s have t o be t a k e n i n t o a c c o u n t i n r e g a r d t o
iirmigration,
and. recommended a " p o l i t i o a l h i g h l e v e l " of 1 2 , 0 0 0 a y e a r .
We. c a n n o t
recommend t h e f i x i n g
in the future.
of. a minimum or of a maximum f o r a n n u a l
T h e r e a r e too m a n y . u n c e r t a i n
immigration
factors.
/V/e d e s i r e . . . . .
CHAPTER I .
Vfe d e s i r e ,
Page
9-
however, t a - s t a t e c e r t a i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n s w h i c h we a g r e e
s h o u l d ho taken- i n t o a c c o u n t i n dctcrxn-ining w h a t number of
there
s h o u l d be in- a n y ; . p e r i o d .
It
i s the right
nation to determine i n the i n t e r e s t s
t o be admitted, t o i t s l a n d s .
that it
s h o u l d be t h e r i g h t
of e v e r y
In P a l e s t i n e
independent
of i t s p e o p l e t h e number- of i m m i g r a n t s
Similarly i t m u s t , we t h i n k ,
be
of t h e Government of P a l e s t i n e t o
h a v i n g r c g . a r d . _ t o t h e w e l l - b e i n g of a l l t h e p e o p l e
number of i m m i g r a n t s t o te
immigrants
conceded
decide,
of P a l e s t i n e ,
a d m i t t e d w i t h i n any g i v e n
the
period.
t h e r e i s t h e J e w i s h N a t i o n a l Home, c r e a t e d i n
consequence
of t h e B a l f o u r D e c l a r a t i o n . ' Some may t h i n k t h a t t h a t D e c l a r a t i o n was
w r o n g a n d s h o u l d n o t have b e e n m a d e : some " t h a t i t w a s a c o n c e p t i o n on a * - ­
grand scale"and t h a t e f f e c t
significant
can be g i v e n t o one of t h e m o s t d a r i n g and
colonisation plans in history.
is right is fruitless.
Controversy as t o which view
The N a t i o n a l Hone i s t h e r e .
i n t h e s o i l of P a l e s t i n e .
It
I t s r o o t s are deep
c a n n o t b e a r g u e d out of e x i s t e n c e :
neither
-can t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s of t h e J e w i s h p i o n e e r s .
The G o v e r n m e n t of P a l e s t i n e , i n h a v i n g r e g a r d ' t o t h e w e l l - b e i n g
a l l t h e p e o p l e of P a l e s t i n e c a n n o t i g n o r e t h e i n t e r e s t s
s e c t i o n of t h e p o p u l a t i o n .
q u a r t o r of a c e n t u r y .
It
of
of so l a r g e
a
c a n n o t i g n o r e t h e a c h i e v e m e n t s - of t h e
last
No-Government of P a l e s t i n e d o i n g , i t s d u t y t o
p e o p l e of t h a t l a n d can f a i l
t o do i t s b e s t n o t
the
only t o m a i n t a i n ' t h e '
N a t i o n a l Home, b u t a l s o t o f o s t e r i t s p r o p e r d e v e l o p m e n t anct s u c h d e v e l o p ­
ment m u s t i n our v i e w i n v o l v e
immigration.;.
The w e l l - b e i n g of a l l t h e p e o p l e
neither,
of P a l e s t i n e ,
m u s t ^be t h e g o v e r n i n g c o n s i d e r a t i o n .
be. t h e y J e w s , - A r a b s or
Wo' r e j e c t
the view t h a t
.
t h e r e s h a l l be n o f u r t h e r J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n i n t o P a l e s t i n e - w i t h o u t Arab ­
acquiescence,
We a l s o r e j e c t
a view w h i c h w o u l d r e s u l t i n t h e Arab d o m i n a t i n g t h e J e w . t h e i n s i s t e n t J e w i s h demand t h a t f o r c e d J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n
must p r o c e e d apace i n
order t o produce as quickly as p o s s i b l e a Jewish
m a j o r i t y and a J e w i s h S t a t e .
subordinated t o that
The w e l l - b e i n g of t h e J e w s m u s t n o t b e
of t h e A r a b s : n o r t h a t
w e l l - b e i n g of b o t h , t h e e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n
of t h e A r a b s t o t h e J e w s , The
of P a l e s t i n e
d e g r e e of e x e c u t i o n - o f p l a n s f o r f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t ,
carefully
particular
a s a. w h o l e ,
the
a l l have t o bo
c o n s i d e r e d i n d e c i d i n g t h e number- of i m m i g r a n t s f o r
any
period.
/Palestine
....
CHAPTER I . ' P a g e 1 0 .
P a l e s t i n e i s a l a n d s a c r e d ' t o three
F a i t h s and must n o t become t h e
l a n d of any one of them t o t h e e x c l u s i o n
of t h e o t h e r s ,
and J e w i s h
irani £ r a t i o n f o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e N a t i o n a l Home must n o t . become a
p o l i c y of d i s c r i i n i i i a t i o n a g a i n s t
w h o " d e s i r e s and i s q u a l i f i e d
o t h e r iraid.gr ants-;
Any p e r s o n ,
under a p p l i c a b l e laws t o e n t e r P a l e s t i n e
n o t be r e f u s e d a d m i s s i o n - o r s u b j e c t e d t o d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
he i s not a Jew.
therefore,
must
on t h e g r o u n d
that
A l l p r o v i s i o n s r e s p e c t i n g i m m i g r a t i o n must b e drawn,
e x e c u t e d and a p p l i e d w i t h t h a t p r i n c i p l e a l w a y s f i r m l y i n m i n d .
Further,
w h i l e we r e c o g n i s e t h a t any J e w who e n t e r s P a l e s t i n e
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h i t s - l a w s i s t h e r e of r i g h t ,
in
we e x p r e s s l y d i s a p p r o v e
of
t h e p o s i t i o n : t a k e n i n some J e w i s h q u a r t e r s t h a t P a l e s t i n e h a s ' i n some way
b e e n c e d e d or g r a n t e d a s t h e i r S t a t e t o t h e Jews of t h e w o r l d ,
J e w e v e r y w h e r e i s , m e r e l y b e c a u s e he i s a Jew,
therefore
can e n t e r - P a l e s t i n e
and t h a t t h e r e f o r e
of J e w s i n t o P a l e s t i n e .
any i m m i g r a n t Jew who e n t e r s P a l e s t i n e
every
of P a l e s t i n e
a s of "right w i t h o u t r e g a r d t o
i m p o s e d b y t h e Government upon' e n t r y ,
i l l e g a l immigration
a. c i t i z e n
that
and
conditions
t h e r e can b e no
We d e c l a r e end a f f i r m
c o n t r a r y t o i t s - l a w s i s an
that
illegal
immigrant.
RECOMMEND ATI ON No. 7 .
(A) WE RECOMMEND THAT THE LAND TRANSFERS REGULATIONS
OF 1 9 4 0 BE RESCINDED AND REPLACED BY REGULATIONS BASED ON A POLICY OF
FREEDOM IN THE SALE, LEASE OR USE OF LAND, IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE, COMMUNITY
OR CREED; AND PROVIDING ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THE. INTERESTS OF SMALL
OWNERS AND TENANT CULTIVATORS.'
( B ) WE FURTHER RECOMMEND TffiVT STEPS BE
.
TAKEN TO RENDER NUGATORY AND TO PROHIBIT PROVISIONS IN CONVEYANCES, LEASES
AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO , LAND MICH STIPULATE THAT ONLY MEMBERS OF ONE
RACE, COMMUNITY OR CREED' Miff BE EMPLOYED ON OR ABOUT OR IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH.
(c) WE RECOMMEND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXERCISE SUCH
CLOSE SUPERVISION OVER THE HOLY PLACES AND LOCALITIES SUCH AS THE ' SEA OF.
GALILEE AND ITS VICINITY AS WILL PROTECT THEM FROM DESECRATION AND FROM
.
USES WHICH OFFEND THE CONSCIENCE OF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE; AMD THAT SUCH LAWS
AS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS PURPOSE BE ENACTED FORTHWITH.
COMMENT.
The Land T r a n s f e r s R e g u l a t i o n s
of 1940 s o u g h t t o p r o t e c t t h e Arab
t e n a n t said s m a l l owner b y p r o h i b i t i n g t h e s a l e of l a n d save t o a P a l e s t i n i a n
Arab i n
one z o n e , b y r e s t r i c t i n g - s u c h s a l e s i n a n o t h e r ,
unrestricted
sale of land only i n t h e t h i r d zone.
and
allowing
Their effect
has been
/ sue h . . . .
'
CHAPTER I .
P a g o -11.­
s u c h a s t o amount t o d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a g a i n s t t h e J e w s ; t h e i r t e n d e n c y i s
s e g r e g a t e a n d k e e p s e p a r a t e A r a b s and J e w s .
p r o h i b i t e d or r e s t r i c t e d ,
to dispose
of h i s l a n d ,
I n t h e z o n e s where s a l e s a r c
t h e y have p r o t e c t e d t h e Arab from t h e
on w h i c h h i s l i v e l i h o o d and t h a t
temptation
of h i s f a m i l y
o f t e n d e p e n d , f o r a sum o u t of a l l p r o p o r t i o n t o i t s r e a l v a l u e .
made w i t h t h e o b j e c t
cultivators,
of m a i n t a i n i n g t h e e x i s t i n g . s t a n d a r d
and of p r e v e n t i n g t h e c r e a t i o n
population,
they afford
to
so
Though
of l i v i n g of Arab
of a c o n s i d e r a b l e l a n d l e s s
no p r o t e c t i o n t o t h e Arab l i v i n g i n t h e f r e e
Arab
zone.
He may s e l l h i s l a n d ' f o r a f a n t a s t i c p r i c e and add t o t h e c o n g e s t i o n i n
o t h e r z o n e s by moving t h e r e .
across; t h e zone boundary,
f o r l a n d ' ' of e q u a l
We a r e
quality.
or r e s t r i c t i o n s d i s c r i m i n a t i n g
i n g , i n d e e d f o r r a i s i n g t h e Arab s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g .
in the Peel Report
c h a n g e i n t h e m e t h o d s of c u l t i v a t i o n
maintains
T h i s n e c e s s i t y was a l s o
that
(i)
and ( i i )
the
u n l e s s t h e r e i s a marked
the land in P a l e s t i n e i s unable
a large increase in population,
on t h e l a n d i n t h e h i l l d i s t r i c t s .
truer,
for
( C h a p t e r IX, p a r a g r a p h 10) w h i c h e n d o r s e d
f o l l o w i n g p r i n c i p l e s of e a r l i e r r e p o r t s ,
support
against
We r e c o g n i s e t h e n e e d f o r p r o t e c t i n g t h e Arab s m a l l owner and
f o r p r o v i d i n g a g a i n s t a l a r g o l a n d l e s s Arab p o p u l a t i o n ,
recognised
just
c a n n o t o b t a i n a n y t h i n g a p p r o x i m a t i n g t h e same sum
o p p o s e d t o any l e g i s l a t i o n
Jew- or A r a b .
tenant,
An Arab l i v i n g a s h o r t d i s t a n c e away,
the
there i s already
Those p r i n c i p l e s a r c as- t r u e ,
to
congestion
if
not
today.
We do n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e n e c e s s a r y p r o t e c t i o n f o r t h e Arab can b e
provided
o n l y b y c o n f i n i n g t h e Jew t o p a r t i c u l a r p o r t i o n s of P a l e s t i n e .
a policy,
s u g g e s t e d by the Peel'Ccejmission,
solution,
partition,
I s consistent with t h e i r
proposed
b u t s c a r c e l y w i t h t h a t put forward by u s .
The l e a s e s g r a n t e d b y t h e J e w i s h N a t i o n a l Fund c o n t a i n a p r o v i s i o n
no l a b o u r o t h e r t h a n J e w i s h s h a l l be employed by t h e l e s s e e
in connection with the land subject to the lease,
that a sub-lease
shall contain similar
on or a b o u t
and a f u r t h e r
1
the r e t e n t i o n
or
provision
We a p p r e c i a t e
one of t h e r e a s o n s f o r s u c h p r o v i s i o n s was: t o s e c u r e employment
J o w i s h i m m i g r a n t s on t h e " l a n d ,
that
terms.
As we have s a i d we a r e opposed t o s u c h d i s c r i m i n a t i o n .
that
Such
we d o n o t t h i n k t h a t t h a t o b j e c t
for
justifies
of s u c h s t i p u l a t i o n s w h i c h a r e h a r m f u l t o . c o - o p e r a t i o n
and
u n d e r f s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n A r a b and J e w .
/Land
....
CHAPTER. X.
Pago 12.
Land a c q u i r e d b y t h e J e w i s h N a t i o n a l Fund pr f o r
Supreme Moslem C o u n c i l b e c o m e s i n a l i e n a b l e .
the view In i t s Report
a Waqf b y t h e
The P e e l Commission
expressed
( C h a p t e r IX, p a r a g r a p h 80) t h a t c a u t i o n en t h e
part
of t h e Government i n d i s p o s i n g of S t a t e domain t o t h e s e b o d i e s was d o s i r ­
able.
The s i t u a t i o n r e q u i r e s w a t c h i n g .
of t h e i n h a b i t a n t s of P a l e s t i n e
if
I t would h o t b e t o t h e
too large a proportion
of t h e
s h o u l d become i n a l i e n a b l e w h e t h e r h e l d b y one o r g a n i s a t i o n
In the
small,
or
another.
i t i s I n t h e i n t e r e s t ; of J e w s raid A r a b s
a l i k e t h a t a l l l a n d s h o u l d b e d e v e l o p e d and p u t t o t h e f u l l e s t
The s e t t l e m e n t
and t h e d e v e l o p m e n t
c a p a b l e of u s e ,
land
t h i c k l y p o p u l a t e d c o u n t r y of P a l e s t i n e , w i t h , i t s
rapidly increasing population,
use.
interests
of t i t l e
possible
t o land should proceed a s q u i c k l y a s possible
of S t a t e l a n d s , n o t r e q u i r e d f o r p u b l i c p u r p o s e s and
s h o u l d be
facilitated.
The H o l y Land of P a l e s t i n e
c o n t a i n s w i t h i n i t s "borders and through--,
out i t s t e r r i t o r i e s p l a c e s s a c r e d t o t h e f o l l o w e r s
of t h r o e g r e a t r e l i g i o n s .
The " L i d o " . w i t h i t s d a n c i n g and s w i n g m u s i c on t h e s h o r e of t h e Sea of
Galilee
offends t h e s e n s i b i l i t i e s
t o our n o t i c e
objectionable..
of many C h r i s t i a n p e o p l e .
R e p o r t s come
of o t h e r p r o j e c t s t h e c o m p l e t i o n of w h i c h would b e
We t h e r e f o r e f e e l i t r i g h t b y our r e c o m m e n d a t i o n
emphasise t h e n e c e s s i t y f o r c l o s e
to
s u p e r v i s i o n and t o recommend t h e
s t r e n g t h e n i n g of t h e l a w s h o u l d t h a t be
RECOMMENDATION N o . 8 .
equally
required.
VARIOUS PLANS FOR LARGE-SCALE AGRICULTURAL AND
INDUSTRIAL. LEVELOPMENT IN PALESTINE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED FOR OUR CONSIDERATION; THESE PROJECTS, I F SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED INTO EFFECT, COULD NOT ONLY
GREATLY ENLARGE THE CAPACITY OF THE COUNTRY TO SUPPORT AN INCREASING
POPULATION, BUT ALSO RAISE THE LIVING STANDARDS OF JEW AND ARAB ALIKE.
HE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO ASSESS THE SOUNDNESS OF THESE SPECIFIC
P k J N S ; BUT WE CANNOT STATE TOO STRONGLY THAT, HOWEVER TECHNICALLY FEASIBLE
THEY MAY BE, THEY T/ILL FAIL UNLESS THERE I S PEACE IN PALESTINE.
MOREOVER
THEIR FULL SUCCESS REQUIRES THE WILLING CO-OPERATION OF ADJACENT ARAB
STATES,. SINCE THEY ARE NOT MERELY PALESTINIAN PROJECTS.
WE RECOMMEND
THEREFORE THAT THE EXAMINATION, DISCUSSION AND EXECUTION OF THESE PLANS
BE CONDUCTED,' FROM THE START AND THROUGHOUT, IN FULL CONSULTATION AND
CO-OPERATION NOT ONLY WITH THE JEWISH AGENCY BUT ALSO WITH THE GOVERNMENTS
OF THE NEIGHBOURING ARAB STATES DIRECTLY AFFECTED.
/COMMENT . . . .
CHAPTER I .
Page
1.5.
COMMENT.
The " b u i l d i n g of t h e J e w i s h economy h a s e n j o y e d t h e a d v a n t a g e
c a p i t a l , provided
si deration.
The A r a b s have had n o s u c h a d v a n t a g e .
that plans,
Valley Authority,
judged t e c h n i c a l l y
should,
organisation,
J e w i s h Agency,
abundant
on s u c h t e r m s a s t o make e c o n o m i c r e t u r n a s e c o n d a r y
t h i n k i t wise or a p p r o p r i a t e
private
of
if
even though t h a t
In p r i n c i p l e ,
con­
wc do n o t
such as the p r o j e c t f o r a Jordan
s o u n d , be u n d e r t a k e n b y any
organisation,
as suggested by the
s h o u l d g i v e on a s s u r a n c e of Arab b e n e f i t s and Arab p a r t i c i p a ­
t i o n i n t h e management.
Such p r o p o s a l s , b y r e a s o n of t h e i r m a g n i t u d e and f a r - r e a c h i n g
should be c o n c e i v e d as p u b l i c p r o j e c t s ,
s u i t a b l e f o r Government
and a c c e p t e d only p r o v i d e d t h a t t h e y arc c a l c u l a t e d t o b e n e f i t
the population,
B u t t h e u n d e r t a k i n g of a w o r t h - w h i l e p r o j e c t
h o l d up m e r e l y from f i n a n c i a l
tho aid
effects,
enterprise
all parts
of
s h o u l d n o t be
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s w h i c h c o u l d b e overcome w i t h
of s e m i - p h i l a n t h r o p i c r e s o u r c e s .
Some compromise s h o u l d n o t b e .
i m p o a s i b l c w h i c h w o u l d combine J e w i s h f i n a n c e w i t h
Government-responsibility
and c o n t r o l .
We welcome t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t t h e G o v e r n m e n t of P a l e s t i n e h a s
itself
p r e p a r e d p r o g r a m m e s o f p o s t - w a r d e v e l o p m e n t ; we c o u l d w i s h t h a t m e a n s m i g h t
b e found for p r o j e c t s
recognise that
of l a r g e r r a n g e and on a more a m b i t i o u s s c a l e ; b u t wc
u n t i l p o l i t i c a l , peace i s r e s t o r e d t h e r e i s great
dijffioulty
i n r a i s i n g t h e n e c e s s a r y f u n d s w h e t h e r from r e v e n u e or. b o r r o w i n g .
Meanwhile i t
present lacking,
i s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e Government s h o u l d a c q u i r e p o w e r s ,
to investigate
f u l l y t h e e x t e n t of t h e c o u n t r y " ^
water
resources,
t o c o n t r o l t h e u s e of u n d e r g r o u n d w a t e r and t o d e t e r m i n e
to surface
water.
We d o u b t w h e t h e r P a l e s t i n e can e x p a n d i t s e c o n o m y . t o t h e f u l l ,
r e g a r d t o i t s l i m i t e d n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s , w i t h o u t a f u l l and f r e e
of g o o d s a n d s e r v i c e s w i t h n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s .
at
rights
having,
interchange
. I n s me r e s p e c t s ,
indeed,
as in c e r t a i n jrrojects i n v o l v i n g water supply, t h e i r a c t i v e c o l l a b o r a t i o n
is
i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o f u l l d e v e l o p m e n t on on e c o n o m i c b a s i s .
Tho rom r v a l of A r t i c l e
comprehensive t a r i f f
18 of t h e M a n d a t e w o u l d c l e a r : t h e way t o t h o s e , - ­
and t r a d e a g r e e m e n t s ,
not c o n f l i c t i n g w i t h aky
intor­
n a t i o n a l o b l i g a t i o n s t h a t m i g h t be a c c e p t e d by t h e M a n d a t o r y o r T r u s t e e ,
c o u l d u l t i m a t e l y l e a d t o some t i l i n g l i k e a c u s t o m s u n i o n - an o b j e c t i v e
which
already
i n mind a s b e t w e e n t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o u n t r i e s of t h e Arab L e a g u e .
/EDUCATION
CILIPIER I .
PO.P-0 1 4 .
188
\TION
REG OMMENDAT ION N o. 9.
WE RECOMMEND THAT, IN THE INTERESTS OP THE CONCILIATION
fe.
OR THE TWO PEOPLES AND OP GENERAL D.IPROVEIviENT OP THE ARAB STANDARD OP LIVING-,
THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF BOTH JEWS AND'" -ARABS BE REFORMED INCLUDING THE
INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMER.
. COMMENT.
.
.
-
*
- - "In C h a p t e r XVI of t h e P e e l R e p o r t ,
'.
'- '
t h e had f e a t u r e s
-
v
/ "7i
-
:
*
of t h e e d u c a t i o n a l ' ­
s y s t e m of P a l e s t i n e and t h e g r o a t d i s p a r i t y b e t w e e n t h e money s p e n t
on Arab
and J e w i s h e d u c a t i o n were p o i n t e d -out.;-' The R e p o r t a l s o e m p h a s i s e d t h a t
J e w i s h and Arab e d u c a t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e w e r e ' - ' n a t i o n a l i s t i c i n
both
character,
p a r t i c u l a r a t t e n t i o n , was c a l l e d t o n a t i o n a l i s t p r o p a g a n d a i n Arab s c h o o l s .
Our i n v e s t i g a t i o n s d i s c l o s e d t h a t t o d a y t h e J e w i s h s c h o o l s a l s o -
con­
t r o l l e d and l a r g e l y f i n a n c e d b y t h e J e w i s h community - a r c imbued w i t h a
fiery
s p i r i t of n a t i o n a l i s m .
inculcating a spirit
They have become most e f f e c t i v e
of a g g r e s s i v e Hebrew n a t i o n a l i s m .
agencies
for
Wo would u r g e m o s t
s t r o n g l y t h a t a d e q u a t e c o n t r o l m u s t b o e x e r c i s e d b y t h e Government o v e r t h e
e d u c a t i o n of b o t h Jews and A r a b s , i n o r d e r t o do away w i t h t h e p r e s e n t
excited.,
e m p h a s i s on r a c i a l i s m and t h e p e r v e r s i o n of e d u c a t i o n f o r p r o p a g a n d a , p u r p o s e s .
The Government s h o u l d e n s u r e , b y a c a r e f u l
curricula,
s u p e r v i s i o n of t e x t b o o k s and
and b y i n s p e c t i o n of s c h o o l s t h a t e d u c a t i o n c o n t r i b u t e s t o
conciliation
the
of t h e two p e o p l e s .
We b e l i e v e f u r t h e r t h a t a larr-;e shar-c of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
Arab
J e d u c a t i o n m i g h t w e l l b e assumed b y an Arab community,
community a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d i n P a l e s t i n e .
communities are t o s e t themselves t h e goal
higher proportion
similar to the
B u t i f t h e Arab and J e w i s h
of c o m p u l s o r y e d u c a t i o n ,
of t h e a n n u a l P a l e s t i n i a n b u d g e t must b e d e v o t e d
e d u c a t i o n t h a n h e r e t o f o r e , m a s t of w h i c h w i l l b e s p e n t
T h i s w i l l o n l y be p o s s i b l e i f
Jewish
a much
to
on Arab e d u c a t i o n .
t h e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e b u d g e t now d e v o t e d
to
s e c u r i t y can b e s u b s t a n t i a l l y r e d u c e d .
We would a l s o s t r e s s t h e u r g e n t n e c e s s i t y
for
secondary,
of i n c r e a s i n g t h e
t e c h n i c a l and u n i v e r s i t y eduontxori a v a i l a b l e t o A r a b s .
d i s p a r i t y b e t w e e n t h e s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g of t h e two p e o p l e s ,
a l r e a d y drawn a t t e n t i o n ,
professional
RLIXTWONOR.
for
i s v e r y l a r g e l y due t o t h e f a c t
mod m i d d l e c l a s s so l a r g e l y outnimibcrs t h a t
,VAI
facilities
The
t o w h i c h wo have
that the
Jewish
of t h e A r a b s .
o n l y b e removed b y a. v e r y s u b s t a n t i a l , l u o r n a . s e i n t h e
This
facilities
higher education available t o Arabs.
/THE NEED . . v'ii
-
---­ ­ -CHAPTER I .
Page
1,5-
THE NEED FOR
PEACE I N '
RECOM-iEND AT I ON No. 1 0 ,
­
"
PALESTINE
I T SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR BEYOND ALL DOUBT TO BOTH JEP/S AND ARABS THAT
:- ­
,
:
EE REC0M-B3ND THAT,
I F T H I S R E P O R T . I S ADOPTED,
ANY ATTEMPT FROM E I T H E R S I D E , BY THREATS OF VIOLENCE, BY TERRORISM,
OR BY THE ORGANISATION OR USE OF ILLEGAL IRMT.ES TO PREVENT I T S
EXECUTION, WILL BE RESOLUTELY SUPPRESSED.
FURTHERIILORE, WE E X P R E S S THE VIEW THAT THE JEWISH AGENCY SHOULD
AT ONCE RESUME ACTIVE CO-OPERATION WITH- THE MANDATORY IE" THE
SUPPRESSION OF TERRORISM AND OF ILLEGAL E M I G R A T I O N ,
AND I N THE
MAINTENANCE OF THAT LAW AND ORDER THROUGHOUT P A L E S T I N E WHICH I S
E S S E N T I A L FOR THE GOOD OF ALL, INCLUDING THE NET/" IMMIGRANTS.
C H AP T E R
THE POSITION OE THE JEWS IN EUROPE
We a r c r e q u i r e d i n p a r a g r a p h 2 of o u r Terms of R e f e r e n c e
" t o examine t h e
position
he J e w s i n t h o s e c o u n t r i e s in* Europe whore t h e y have b e e n t h e v i c t i m s , of N a z i a n d
31
ul
fascist persecution,
and t h e p r a c t i c a l m e a s u r e s t a k e n
those c o u n t r i e s t o e n a b l e them t o l i v e f r e e
or c o n t e m p l a t e d t o be t a k e n
from d i s c r i m i n a t i o n and o p p r e s s i o n ,
in
and t o
it lake e s t i m a t e s
of t h o s e who w i s h or w i l l be i m p e l l e d b y t h e i r c o n d i t i o n s t o m i g r a t e
to
I
falestine
I.
or o t h e r c o u n t r i e s o u t s i d e E u r o p e " .
In order t o f u l f i l
our t a s k w i t h i n t h e a l l o t t e d p e r i o d of 120 d a y s and on a c c o u n t
I f t h e u r g e n c y of. t h e p r o b l e m , we d i v i d e d i n t o S u b - C o m m i t t e e s , w h i c h b e t w e e n t h e
Ind 2.8th F e b r u a r y ,
-Austria.
1946, v i s i t e d t h e A m e r i c a n , B r i t i s h and F r e n c h z o n e s of Germany and
Sub-Committees a l s o v i s i t e d F r a n c e , P o l a n d , Czccho-Slovakia,
find S w i t z e r l a n d .
Italy,
Greece
C i r c u m s t a n c e s d i d n o t p e r m i t u s t o go t o H u n g a r y , Roumania, Yugo­
i l a v i a , B u l g a r i a or t h e R u s s i a n z o n e of A u s t r i a . ,
If
5th
a n d we d i d n o t v i s i t t h e R u s s i a n
Germany a f t e r we w e r e i n f o r m e d b y t h e D e p u t y Commander of t h o S o v i e t
zone
occupation
$forces t h a t i n t h a t a r e a t h e r e was n o s p e c i a l J e w i s h p r o b l e m .
m
:f.
There a r e a b o u t 9 8 , 0 0 0 Jews from o t h e r ' c o u n t r i e s - d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s - now l i v i n g
i n G c m a n y , A u s t r i a and I t a l y ,
C o u n t r i e s of E u r o p e .
and a s m a l l a d d i t i o n a l number s c a t t e r e d t h r o u g h o u t
We f o u n d t h a t t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e s e Jews i n t h e American
* B r i t i s h z o n e s of Germany and A u s t r i a wore l i v i n g i n a s s e m b l y c e n t r e s ,
"displaced persons",
g e r s o n s out-aide t h e i r n a t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s b y r e a s o n of t h e war.'
and
once known a s
"camps" whore accommodati m and m a i n t e n a n c e wore p r o v i d e d b y t h e m i l i t a r y
The J e w i s h o c c u p a n t s of t h e s e c e n t r e s a r c n o t a l l
the
authorities.
that is to
say,
S i n c e t h e end of t h e
far t h e r e h a s b e e n a. v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e movement of J e w s i n t o t h e American and B r i t i s h
Banos;.of Germany and A u s t r i a .
Poland.
I t i s estimated that,
Thorn h a s a l s o b e e n some m i g r a t i o n ,
ana Hungary; t h i s shows s i g n s of i n c r e a s i n g .
so f a r ,
some 3 0 , 0 0 0 have come from
t h o u g h on a s m a l l e r s c a l e ,
from Roumania
S i n c e wo l e f t E u r o p e t h e r e h a s b e e n
- s l i g h t r e s t r i c t i o n i n t h e movement of m i g r a n t s g e n e r a l l y , b u t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y
a
that
"Jhere may b e a c o n s i d e r a b l e i n c r e a s e i n t h e m o n t h s t o come m u s t be b o r n e i n m i n d .
The o f f i c e r
commanding t h e American F o r c e s s u g g e s t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g a s t h e
f j r t h e movement i n t o t h e American zone of. Germany: t h e e x p e c t a t i o n of g e n e r o u s
reasons
treatment,
3
BP" p r o b a b i l i t y of f i n d i n g r e l a t i o n s t h e r e , t h e s p e c i a l a c t i v i t y i n America on b e h a l f
g
o wish, " r e l i e f ,
a
'^ ^
I
s
e s
^
1 1 0 ,
and t h e f e e l i n g t h a t t h e American zone w a s on. t h e s h o r t e s t r o u t e
Detailed information
covering the p o s i t i o n
Giver, i n A p p e n d i c e s I I and I I I .
of J e w s i n E u r o p e a n
to
countries
of
k&o- n a t u r e of
tye*^c.,ym£&z&sa
. - omev^C3n*^^^
;
wore used; i n o t h e r s ,
s
lottagos.
of ( l i s p l a c c a . . J t f W ^ O
huts,
hotels,
in
character.
a p a r t m e n t h o u s e s and F o r e x a m p l e , i n Hohno. commonly r e f e r r e d t o a s B c l s e n ,
in the British
zone [f Germany a d h e r e 9,000 Jews were oocsoKcvoddtcd, t h e " b u i l d i n g s w e r e " b a r r a c k s f armor l y ^ I ^ u p i e d by a u n i t
lots b u i l t
o f - t h e German A m y ,
At Bindcrriubckcl, i n t h e A m e r i c a n z o n e of A u s t r i a ,
t o h o u s e w o r k e r s i n t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g G o c r i n g f a c t o r y had b e e n t a k e n
ind i n t h e s o u t h of I t a l y e n t i r e
s e a s i d e v i l l a g e s had' "been made a v n i l a b l o f o r
over,
that
fcurp o s c .
5.
I n t h e American and B r i t i s h z o n e s , where t h e b u l k of t h e s e p e r s o n s w e r e f o u n d ,
vrere accommodated i n s e p a r a t e c e n t r e s from o t h e r d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s ,
voluntarily w i t h i n a c e n t r e .
!
or
they
segregated
The maximum of s e l f - a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s e n c o u r a g e d and t h e r e
'
i s u s u a l l y a c e n t r e c o m m i t t e e - w h i c h i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d i r e c t i n g group- a c t i v i t i e s - and
for d e a l i n g w i t h c o m p l a i n t s .
I n many c e n t r e s : t h e o c c u p a n t s have t h e i r
d e a l i n g w i t h o f f e n c e s and t h e i r
6,
own p o l i c e .
UNNRA h a s t a k e n an i n . c r e o . s i n g p a r t i n t h e r e l i e f
In t h e autumn of 19Mf,
own c o u r t s f o r
i t began t o operate i n I t a l y ,
and r e h a b i l i t a t i o n
and i n F e b r u a r y ,
of t h e s e J e w s .
1945, t o o k over
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e - - r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e l a r g e r c e n t r e s i n t h e s o u t h of I t a l y .
summer and L a t t e r p o r t
C-crnany and A u s t r i a .
of
In the
i945, i t w a s a s s i s t i n g t h e Army i n t h e Amorico-n z o n e s of
At oho e n d of F e b r u a r y l a s t ,
UNRRA assumed r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r t h e
i n t e r n a l a c t a i i i r i s t r a t i on of Hohne and i t n o w a d j - i i n i s t a r s o t h e r ' c e n t r e s i n t h e B r i t i s h
a n d . F r e n c h z o n e s of Germany and of A u s t r i a .
Most c e n t r e s ' i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s - z o n e s o r e n".w o p e r a t e d b y UMBRA t e a m s as- a g e n t s
for t h e Army, w h i c h p r o v i d e s t h e a c c o m m o d a t i o n , f o o d ,
c l o t h i n g and m e d i c a l
supplies.
"Voluntary a g e n c i e s s p e c i a l l y -concerned w i t h J e w i s h per.30ns have b e e n i n v i t e d by m i l i t a r y
I a u t h o r i t i e s a n d UMBRA t o g i v e a s s i s t a n c e
and t h e A m e r i c a n J e w i s h J o i n t
J Committee, t h e J e w i s h Agency, and t h e J e w i s h Committee f o r R e l i e f
1 sentatives in the centres.
Distribution
Abroad now have r c p r c ­
The American J e w i s h J o i n t D i s t r i b u t i o n Committee p r o v i d e s
I s p e c i a l i s t s t o a s s i s t w i t h h e a l t h , w e l f a r e and o t h e r - s e r v i c e s s u c h a s t h e s u p p l y of
I Kosher f o o d ,
clothes,
and m a t e r i a l f o r s p i r i t u a l and e d u c a t i o n a l l i f e .
I Agency f u r n i s h e s r e h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d r e s e t t l e m e n t
The J e w i s h
services, p a r t i c u l a r l y in regard
to
problems c o n c e r n i n g p r o j e c t e d e m i g r a t i o n t o P a l e s t i n e .
/.
We sow many c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e c e n t r e s t h a t m i g h t b e c r i t i c i s e d ,
owing t o c i r c u r a ­
s t a n c e s w h i c h w e r e n o t a l w a y s v / i t h i n t h e p o w e r of t h e m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s t o i m p r o v e .
I n e r e wore l a c k o f f u r n i t u r e ,
s h o r t a g e of b o d s a n d ' b e d d i n g ,
u n s a t i s f a c t o r y c o o k i n g a r r a n g e m e n t s , . o v e r c r o w d i n g and a
"go have no d o u b t t h a t many of t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s have b e e n
/remedied . . . .
CHAPTER I X .
vreraodioer-^^
Pnraj..JV.-r ;-^..^
J:
-fetus . w h o i o 1 i a c t r ^ & - c f f ^
of o u r ' a u t h o r i t i e s t o do o v c r $ ) i
t h i n g p o s s i b l e t o w a r d s t h e w e l l - b e i n g of t h e s e u n f o r t u n a t e p e o p l e .
N e v e r t h e l e s s ^ . a t the
b e s t , most of t h o c e n t r e s c o u l d n o t b e more t h a n t h e p l a c e i n w h i c h t h e o c c u p a n t s were
g i v e n s h e l t e r , . f o o d end c l o t h i n g .
p h y s i c a l n e e d s , t h e r e was l i t t l e
t h e i r mental anguish.
they s t i l l f e l t
T/hLle e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e w a s b e i n g done f o r t h e i r
t h a t c o u l d b e done t o i m p r o v e t h e i r m o r a l e o.nd r e l i e v o
Coming f r o m t h e h o r r o r s of N a z i p e r s e c u t i o n ,
i t was e v i d e n t
t h e m s e l v e s o u t c a s t s and unv/antcd.
I t i s p e r h a p s u n f o r t u n a t e i n some r e s p e c t s t h a t n e a r l y a l l of t h e s e
w e r e i n enemy t e r r i t o r y .
life
in t h e i r
the l a s t
under
8.
that
settlements
The d i s p l a c e d J e w s s e c a r o u n d them Germans l i v i n g
own homos a n d o u t w a r d l y l i t t l e
s u r v i v i n g m e n b e r s of t h e i r f a m i l i e s ,
a-family
effected by the war, while they,
arc l i v i n g s t i l l ,
usually
a s i t seemed t o them, restrictions. On t h o w h o l e , h a v i n g r e g a r d t o t h e many p r o b l e m s w i t h w h i c h t h e y have had t o contend
we f e e l t h a t m i l i t a r y a u t h o r i t i e s ,
UNRRA, a n d t h e v a r i o u s r e l i e f
organisations
concerned
h a v e e v e r y r e a s o n t o b e p r o u d of w h a t t h e y have done t o s u c c o u r t h e s e , r e m n a n t s of Nazi
persecution.
In p a r t i c u l a r ,
we would l i k e t o p a y :cr t r i b u t e t o t h e men and women who
a r c w o r k i n g , s o o f t e n i n s u c h d e p r e s s i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s t o a l l e v i a t e t h e s u f f e r i n g s of
these unfortunate
9.
people.
In the cold p r i n t
of a r e p o r t i t i s n o t p o s s i b l e a c c u r a t e l y t o p o r t r a y o u r f e e l i n g s
w i t h r e g a r d t o t h o s u f f e r i n g d e l i b e r a t e l y i n f l i c t e d b y t h e Germans on t h o s e Jews who
f e l l i n t o t h e i r hands.
The v i s i t
of o u r S u b - C o n m i t t o e t o t h e G h e t t o i n Warsaw h a s l e f t
on t h e i r m i n d s on i m p r e s s i o n w h i c h w i l l f o r e v e r r e m a i n .
A r e a s of t h a t c i t y
f o r m e r l y s t o o d l a r g e b u i l d i n g s core now o. m a s s of b r i c k r u b b l e ,
n u m b e r l e s s -unknown J e w s .
Adjoining the Ghetto there s t i l l
a s a place f o r k i l l i n g Jews.
b a r r a c k s w e r e p i t s c o n t a i n i n g human a s h and human b o n e s .
J e w s who came s c o r c h i n g ,
c o v e r i n g t h e b o d i e s of
s t a n d s an old b a r r a c k s used
Viewing t h i s i n t h e c o l d grey l i g h t
c o u l d i m a g i n e t h e d e p t h s of human s u f f e r i n g t h e r e e n d u r e d .
on w h i c h
of a F e b r u a r y d a y one
I n t h e c o u r t y a r d s of t h e
The e f f e c t
of t h a t p l a c e on
s o o f t e n i n v a i n , f o r any t r a c e of t h e i r d e a r o n e s , c a n b e
left t o the imagination.
When we remember t h a t a t M a i d a n e k and Oswiocim a n d many o t h e r c e n t r e s a d e l i b e r a t e
p x L i c y of e x t e r m i n a t i o n ,
Jews,
coupled with i n d e s c r i b a b l e
suffering,
was i n f l i c t e d
upon, t h e
of whom i t i s e s t i m a t e d t h a t c e r t a i n l y n o t l e ;o. t h a n f i v e m i l l i o n s p e r i s h e d , v/e
can w e l l u n d e r s t a n d a n d s y m p a t h i s e w i t h t h e i n t e n s e : d e s i r e
of t h e s u r v i v i n p : Jews t o
d e p a r t from l o c a l i t i e s s o f u l l
I t must a l s o be understood
that this
of s u c h p o i g n a n t m e m o r i e s .
happened i n what woro. r o g o r d o d a s c i v i l i z e d
communities.
/10.
There
if! CHAPTER I I .
10.
Page 4.
There can s c a r c e l y be a Jew i n Europe who h a s n e t s u f f e r e d
degree e i t h e r himself
or h e r s e l f
or by t h e l o s s of r e l a t i v e s .
n a t i o n a l i t i e s also suffered in the concentration
n u s t n o t be f o r g o t t e n .
Surqpeon J e w r y .
i n g r e a t e r or
less
Many n o n - J e w s of
camps and many of them d i e d .
all
This
We a r e c o n c e r n e d i n t h i s R e p o r t w i t h t h e l i v i n g s u r v i v o r s of
We c o u l d h a r r o w t h e f e e l i n g s
of t h o s e who r e a d . , t h i s R e p o r t b y r e p e t i t i o n
of a c c o u n t s we r e c e i v e d of German f r i g h t f u l n e s s .
We do n o t p r o p o s e t o do s o .
to p r e s e n t a p i c t u r e of t h e g e n e r a l s i t u a t i o n a s we saw i t .
s u r v i v e d ; n o t many c h i l d r e n ,
for special efforts
Eew of t h e a i d e r p e o p l e
seem t o have b e e n made t o d e s t r o y
The m a j o r i t y of t h e c h i l d r e n who s u r v i v e d a r e o r p h a n s .
survivors a r e young and middle-aged p e o p l e .
We w i s h
The 3najority of t h e
remaining
The l a t t e r e s c a p e d d e a t h o n l y b y
their
s t r o n g p h y s i q u e e n a b l i n g them t o s u s t a i n e i t h e r t h e o r d e a l s of f o r c e d l a b o u r i n
t r a t i o n camps,
or t h e p r i v a t i o n s accompanying h i d i n g .
or no e d u c a t i o n s a v e t h a t of c r u e l t y .
them.
concen­
The y o u n g p e o p l e have had l i t t l e .
I t i s n o t t o o much t o s a y t h a t t h e y a l l owe t h e i r
lives to l i b e r a t i o n by the United Nations.
11.
These J e w i s h s u r v i v o r s have n o t emerged from t h e i r
p h y s i c a l l y or m e n t a l l y .
ordeals unscathed
I t i s r a r e indeed t o f i n d a complete Jewish f a m i l y .
r e t u r n t o t h e i r o l d homes f i n d them d e s t r o y e d o r o c c u p i e d b y o t h e r s ,
gone or e l s e i n o t h e r h a n d s .
They s e a r c h f o r r e l a t i v e s ,
Such w a s t h e s y s t e m of t h e Germans t h a t . i t
ever t o e s t a b l i s h t h e d e a t h of t h e i r d e a r o n e s .
I the f a c e o f any man he l o o k s upon t h e m u r d e r e r of h i s f a m i l y .
few f i n d t h e m s e l v e s a b l e t o f a c e s u c h
conditions.
12.
the chief
fox- t h e m
great
a Jew may s e e ' i n
I t i s understandable
, ;
that
d e s i r e i s t o g o t o u t , t o g e t away some-
a c h a n c e of b u i l d i n g up a new l i f e ,
l i v i n g i n p e a c e and i n s e c u r i t y .
or
I n Gci-many and i n P o l a n d ,
1
I where w h e r e t h e r e i s
of t h e c o u n t r y
is difficult
which was o f t e n d e s c r i b e d t o us a s " t h e c e m e t e r y of E u r o p e a n J e w r y " ,
Hungary and Roumania,
businesses
They care f a c e d a l s o w i t h v e r y
d i f f i c u l t i e s I n s e c u r i n g tho r e s t i t u t i o n of t h e i r p r o p e r t y .
In P o l a n d ,
their
Those who
frequently undertaking long .
j o u r n e y s on h e a r i n g a rumour t h a t one h a s b e e n s e e n i n another- p a r t
in a n o t h e r c o n t r e .
cither
of f i n d i n g some h a p p i n e s s ,
of
I n Germany a l s o , w h e r e t h e number of Jews h a s b e e n
.000/
deduced from a b o u t
500,000 i n 1933 t o a b o u t 20,000 now, and m o s t t r a c e s of J e w i s h l i f e
have b e e n d e s t r o y e d ,
there i s a similar desire
on t h e p a r t
of a l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n of t h e
s u r v i v o r s t o make a homo e l s e w h e r e , p r e f e r a b l y i n P a l e s t i n e ' .
p a r t i c u l a r l y i n Bohemia and M o r a v i a ,
W ^establishment
iJcvdsh
and i n A u s t r i a ,
In
Czecho-Slovakia,
the position in regard to
of t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n s i s more h o p e f u l .
The v a s t m a j o r i t y
the
of
d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s and m i g r a n t s , h o w e v e r , b e l i e v e t h a t t h e o n l y p l a c e w h i c h
the
offers
r Prospect i s P a l e s t i n e .
/ 1 3 . Whatever
...
CHAPTER II-, - P a g o 5*
..Wh.a£ever--the T3reTd.oua--posi.tion i n l i f e
Memo I t o a. young; man who b y r e a s o n
his livelihood,
level
there i s
of -mere e x i s t e n c e and h o m e l e s s n C s s .
The f i r s t
camps and s l a v e l a b o u r ,
o n l y of t h e c o n s t r a i n t 'of t h e i r
14-
:
of y e a r s - o f p e r s e c u t i o n
from a J u d g e i n '
has n e v e r been a b l e t o earn,
t h e w i d e s p r e a d f e e l i n g t h a t t h e y h a v e ' b e e n b r o u g h t t o t h e same
r e l e a s e from c o n c e n t r a t i o n
able
of t h o s e i n t h e c e n t r e s ,
camp l i f e ,
sense
of h a p p i n e s s ,
following
h a s p a s s e d . - How t h e y a r c
even though i t
conscious,^
i s u n d e r new and more
favour­
conditions.
Work t o them i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c o n c e n t r a t i o n camps a n d s l a v e l a b o u r .
t h e n had b e e n t o do a s l i t t l e a s t h e y ' c o u l d t o a s s i s t t h e i r p e r s e c u t o r s ,
T h e i r aim
and now t h e y
a r c u n w i l l i n g t o e n g a g e i n any a c t i v i t y w h i c h i s n o t d e s i g n e d t o f i t . t h e m f o r a new­
life
in Palestine.
Even t h o u g h t h e y have s p e n t a c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e I n a c e n t r e ,
s t i l l r e g a r d t h e m s e l v e s a s m e r e l y i n t r a n s i t t o - t h a t c o u n t r y and,
show l i t t l e
living.
w i l l i n g n e s s even t o a s s i s t
generally
speaking,
in improving t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n which they
O f t e n t h e i r days- a r c s p e n t i n a i m l e s s w a n d e r i n g a r o u n d . .
wherever-facilities
they
On t h e o t h e r
ore p r o v i d e d f o r p r a c t i c a l t r a i n i n g f o r l i f e i n . P a l e s t i n e
are
hand,
they
e a g e r l y t a k e a d v a n t a g e of t h e m .
15'
We w e r e d e e p l y i m p r e s s e d "by t h e t r a g e d y of t h e s i t u a t i o n
of t h e s e J e w i s h
i n t h e c e n t r e s and b y t h e t r a g e d y of t h e i r p u r p o s e l e s s e x i s t e n c e .
p a s s e d s i n c e t h e y -wore f r e e d from N a z i o p p r e s s i o n and b r u t a l i t y ,
f e e l t h a t they are as f a r
a s e v e r from r e s t o r a t i o n
t h o s e men, women and c h i l d r e n
condition
Many m o n t h s have­
but they
t o normal l i f e .
themselves
We c o n s i d e r
have a. m o r a l c l a i m on t h e c i v i l i z e d w o r l d .
has evoked a world-wide
survivors
that
Their pitiable
s y m p a t h y , b u t sympathy h a s s o far- t a k e n t h e f o r m only
of p r o v i d i n g t h e m w i t h t h e ba.ro e s s e n t i a l s
of f o o d ,
c l o t h i n g and s h e l t e r .
It
seems t o
thorn t h a t t h e - o n l y r e a l c h a n c e o f r e b u i l d i n g t h e i r s h a t t e r e d l i v e s a n d of b e c o m i n g norma
on and women a g a i n i s t h a t o f f e r e d b y t h e J e w i s h p e o p l e i n P a l e s t i n e .
m i g h t b e g l a d t o j o i n r e l a t i v e s and f r i e n d s
i n other' countries:,
- c o u n t r i e s a t p r e s e n t a p p e a r t o bo c l o s e d t o . t h e m .
p r e v e n t e d from going t o P a l e s t i n e .
-*-hose who a r e
-ccounts f o r ,
It
if
it
as time p a s s e s ,
become s t r o n g e r a n d ,
- p a r e n t r e j e c t i o n b y o t h e r - p e o p l e s of t h e w o r l d ,
in the f u t u r e .
the doors
those
t h e mow t i e s betwoe;
o b s e s s e d by
their
t h e i r f i r m d e s i r e i s t o r e m a i n togcthc
i s t h i s s e n s e of c o h e s i o n , b o r n of caramon - s u f f e r i n g ,
does not wholly excuse,
of
They a r e r e s e n t f u l b e c a u s e t h e y a r c
In t h e meantime,
s h a r i n g t h i s common f r u s t r a t i o n
E v e n t h o u g h many
the firm-resistonco
offered
which doubtless
t o p r o p o s a l s by
c o m p e t e n t b * d i c s t o "remove' y o u n g c h i l d r e n t o h a p p i e r s u r r o u n d i n g s i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s for
-.arcful r e h a b i l i t a t i o n .
nd,
Men and "women a r c m a r r y i n g i n t h e c e n t r e s i n i n c r e a s i n g number,
t o g e t h e r w i t h o t h e r - members of t h e c e n t r e c o m r a u n i t i e s ,
they wait with
growing
i m p a t i e n c e f o r t h e t i m e when t h e y can go t o t h e o n l y f r i e n d l y p l a c e t h e y know.
/"16. I f ,
as
CHAPTER I I .
16.
If.,
Pago 6,
a s wo hope, o u r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n f o r t h e a u t h o r i s a t i o n
is accepted,
the great majority
of i m m i g r a t i o n
certificate
of t h e J e w i s h d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s whose s i t u a t i o n
u r g e n t a c t i o n w i l l be p r o v i d e d f o r
a rid i t w i l l be p o s s i b l e t o a c h i e v e t h e
require
desirable
T end -Of c l o s i n g the.. J e w i s h d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s c e n t r e s and t h e r e b y d i s c o u r a g e t h e
m i g r a t i o n of J e w s - i n . E u r o p e .
from c e n t r e t o c e n t r e ,
to the d i f f i c u l t y
the w a r ,
further
J e w s have w a n d e r e d t h r o u g h Europe a l m o s t a s t h e y w i s h ,
zone. .to z o n e , and c o u n t r y t o c o u n t r y .
of t r a c i n g r e l a t i v e s ,
of u s i n g v a r i o u s n a m e s .
as has t h e p r a c t i c e ,
Such movements have added
a c q u i r e d b y some
during
They have a l s o imposed a heavy b u r d e n on t h e
i t i e s who have c o n s t a n t l y had t o i m p r o v i s e r e c e p t i o n a r r c g i g o m c n t a .
author­
Stabilisation
will
give s y m p a t h e t i c g o v e r n m e n t s a b e t t e r o p p o r t u n i t y of i m p l e m e n t i n g n a t i o n a l , schemes of
r e s e t t l e m e n t and w i l l e n c o u r a g e t h e Jews t h e m s e l v e s t o g i v e more c a r e f u l
to such o p p o r t u n i t i e s .
l i m i t e d and i t
Moreover,
t h e r e s o u r c e s of t h e A l l i e d M i l i t a r y A u t h o r i t i e s
-v."
Wc have a l s o b e e n a s k e d t o examine " t h e p r a c t i c a l m e a s u r e s t a k e n o r
contemplated
to be t a k e n i n t h o s e c o u n t r i e s t o e n a b l e them t o l i v e f r e e from d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
oppression".
The Governments of t h e c o u n t r i e s we v i s i t e d e x p r e s s e d t h e i r
and
opposition
to a n t i - S e m i t i s m , b u t t h i s i s a p o i s o n w h i c h a f t e r y e a r s cf i n f e c t i o n t a k e s t i m e
able
I
arc
i s n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e i r commitments i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h r e f u g e e s bo
reduced.
17.
consideration
eradicate,
wc hope t h a i t h e i r e f f o r t s w i l l be s u c c e s s f u l .
We would u r g e a l s o t h a t
united N a t i o n s s h o u l d e x e r t a l l p o s s i b l e p r e s s u r e i n Germany and A u s t r i a , t o
a l l t r a c e of d i s c r i m i n a t i o n
to
a g a i n s t Jews o r r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e i r
the
eliminate
rehabilitation.
to Mo. F u r t h e r , a. most i m p o r t a n t p r a c t i c a l s t e p t h a t con be t a k e n t o a s s i s t t h e Jews i n
: orr.-" jpurope who w i s h t o r e m a i n i s t o s e c u r e t h e s p e e d y r e s t i t u t i o n of t h e i r p r o p e r t y . We
many r e a l i s e t h a t t h e r e a r c d i f f i c u l t i e s , b u t none t h e l e s s wo de n o t t h i n k t h a t a l l t h a t i s
possible i s b e i n g done.
arc
etwc
Some g o v e r n m e n t s have p a s s e d t h o n e c e s s a r y l e g i s l a t i o n ;
Ire a b o u t t o do so o r have j u s t done s o .
iKdcrl and from our i n q u i r i e s i t
popcrly
JGCTW
Many m o n t h s have p a s s e d
others
s i n c e t h e war has
a p p e a r s t h a t o n l y a few Jews have y e t r e c o v e r e d what
theirs.
Further,
wo t h i n k t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t s of t h n noiin t r i e s where t h e Jews were p c r s e ­
; l o s s Bitea s h o u l d t h e m s e l v e s p r o v i d e a s s i s t a n c e i n t h e rb-6sta&lishira-tut of b h * a o Jews who
.s by- Bok
to remain.
T h i s a s s i s t a n c e m i g h t t a k e t h o form of p r o v i d i n g p r o p e r t y i n H.&n
Hf^-itution.
UMBER,
1
'"
T a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t an improvement i n t h e economic and
Ujlitical
is
c o n d i t i o n s i n J&wrtjpo may a f f o o h
bin
"Ann n.t bhoso who n o w , s e e n o hope
..
- CHAPTER I I .
Page
7;'
cf r e - e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e i r c o u n t r i e s , we e s t i m a t e t h a t a s many a s 500,000
may w i s h o r b e i m p e l l e d t o e m i g r a t e from E u r o p e ,
As d e s c r i b e d b y many w i t n e s s e s ,
indeed f r a n t i c ,
desire
of t h o J e w s of E u r o p e t o e m i g r a t e i s t h o f e e l i n g t h a t
"have b e e n s h u t t o t h e m a n d t h a t
We f e e l t h a t
a f a c t o r w h i c h h a s g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d t h e u r g e n t , tjj
t h e r e i s no
exit.
o u r r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s b o t h i n r e g a r d t o t h e a u t h o r i s a t i o n of
fox- a d m i s s i o n t o P a l e s t i n e ,
a l l doors
-and i n r e g a r d t o t h e r e l a x a t i o n
of i m m i g r a t i o n
certificates
laws
g e n e r a l l y a s on e m e r g e n c y and h u m a n i t a r i a n m e a s u r e , w i l l n o t o n l y b r i n g s u c c o u r
t h o s e t o whom c e r t i f i c a t e s
ore g r a n t e d b u t a l s o i n g r o a t measure' r e l i e v e t h o
to
feelings
of u r g e n c y w i t h which, t h e Jews l o c k b e y o n d E u r o p e .
They w i l l be e n c o u r a g e d c i t h e r t o
resettle
or wait p a t i e n t l y in
themselves in Europe,
if that
is possible,
r e s p e c t i v e c o u n t r i e s u n t i l t h e i r t i m e h a s come t o l e a v e .
their
4
^
'
CHAPTER
-III
THE POLITICAL SITUATION TjN PALESTINE. *­
1,
The P e e l Commission d e c l a r e d i n one of t h e f i n a l c h a p t e r s of i t s
"Neither A r a b n o r Jew h a s a n y s e n s e of s e r v i c e t o a s i n g l e S t a t e , .
is p r i m a r i l y p o l i t i c a l ,
in Arab m i n d s
present.
t h o u g h t h e f e a r of e c o n o m i c s u b j e c t i o n
The c o n f l i c t ,
indeed,
that the s i t u a t i o n ,
conflict
to the Jews i s
also
i s a s much a b o u t t h e f u t u r e a s . a b o u t
...
the
to " s t r i f e
bad a s i t now i s , w i l l grow w o r s e .
and b l o o d s h e d i n a t h r i c e h a l l o w e d
The c o n f l i c t w i l l go on,
The R e p o r t c o n c l u d e d w i t h a r e f e r e n c e
land."
I t i s n i n e y e a r s s i n c e t h e P e e l Commission made i t s r e p o r t .
tions were u n f u l f i l l e d ,
impressive.
the
f o r i r i t e r n a l and e x t e r n a l r e a s o n s i t seems p r o b a b l e
the g u l f b e t w e e n A r a b s and J e w s "Will -widen".
The recommenda­
b u t t h e a n a l y s i s of p o l i t i c a l c o n d i t i o n s r e m a i n s v a l i d
and
The g u l f b e t w e e n t h e A r a b s of P a l e s t i n e and t h e Arab w o r l d on t h e one
s i d e , and t h e J e w s of P a l e s t i n e and e l s e w h e r e on t h e o t h e r h a s w i d e n e d s t i l l
further.
N e i t h e r s i d e seems a t a l l d i s p o s e d a t t h e p r e s e n t t o make a n y s i n c e r e e f f o r t
to
reconcile e i t h e r t h e i r
s u p e r f i c i a l or t h e i r fundamental d i f f e r e n c e s .
view t h e M a n d a t o r y G o v e r n m e n t w i t h m i s g i v i n g s end a n g e r .
:
The
B
E v e r y i n t e l l i g e n t Arab and Jew i s f o r c e d t o a s k t h e q u e s t i o n W h o i n
end w i l l g o v e r n P a l e s t i n e ? '
2.
Report:
verbally,
The A r a b s
I t i s n o t o n l y condemned
b u t a t t a c k e d w i t h bombs and f i r e a r m s by o r g a n i s e d b a n d s of J e w i s h
The P a l e s t i n e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
a p p e a r s t o be p o w e r l e s s t o k e e p t h e s i t u a t i o n
c o n t r o l e x c e p t by t h e d i s p l a y and u s e of v e r y l a r g e f o r c e s .
Even i f
terrorists.
under
t h e t o t a l man­
power i n p o l i c e and d e f e n c e s e r v i c e s w e r e o n l y h a l f w h a t i t i s r e p u t e d t o b e ,
political
i m p l i c a t i o n s 7/ould s t i l l be d e e p l y d i s t u r b i n g .
j fear of e x p e r i e n c e d o f f i c i a l s
I t reflects
the
the
honest
t h a t tomorrow may p r o d u c e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i n w h i c h
m i l i t a r y o p e r a t i o n s w i l l be n e c e s s a r y .
3.
O f f i c i a l d a t a i m p l y t h e g r a v i t y of t h e m e n a c i n g p r o b l e m .
ap art from t h o s e c o n v i c t e d of t e r r o r i s t a c t i v i t y ,
c
T h e y show t h a t , t h e number of J e w s h e l d on ! s u s p i c i o n a v e r a g e d 450 d u r i n g m o s t of t h e y e a r 1945 and was 554 a t t h e end of
I year.
The a g g r e g a t e of p e r s o n s i n t h e w h o l e - t i m e p o l i c e and p r i s o n s s e r v i c e
the
of
( P a l e s t i n e i n 1945 Was a b o u t 1 5 , 0 0 0
/4.
I+
j K D u r i n g o u r v i s i t t o P a l e s t i n e and i n t h e p r e p a r a t i o n
The,..
of t h i s R e p o r t , we w e r e
I
g r e a t l y a s s i s t e d by t h e two v o l u m e s of t h e S u r v e y of P a l e s t i n e w h i c h t h e
I
Government c o m p i l e d a t s h o r t n o t i c e f o r o u r u s e ,
of new s t a t i s t i c a l
and o t h e r
information.
and w h i c h c o n t a i n a g r e a t d e a l
a
CHAPTER
ktf.-.'
III
Pago
2
The tzutccevyiaX. t o b i e s " p r w i d f l - a d d i t i o n a l , e v i d e n c e o f t h e e x t e n t t o which -ttie-lf *JM
e n e r g i e s and money .of t h e Government:'-are d e v o t e d t o the p r o t e c t i o n of l i f e and
property.
About L. P . ^OCXfWO^
'tHe f i n a n c i a l . y e a r
( S i &il&Q4a£&) : Was
spent'oxi
:
"law and o r d e r "
during
194AA5. a s a g a i n s t L . p . 550,000- ($2/200,000) i n h e a l t h a n d L . P .
:
"706;QW -i$2y8Q&tPQP)
on e d u c a t i o n .
1
Thus even; from.-a b u d g e t a r y p o i n t ' o f " v i e w -
P a l e s t i n e h a s d&vejjoped i n t o a s e m i - m i l i t a r y o r . p o l i c e , s t a t e .
But, pending a
s u b s t a n t i a l . . c h a n g e i n the^ r e l a t i o n s ' b e t w e e n t h e Government n d t h e J e w s and the
a
;
A r a b s , t h e p r o s p e c t of t h e k i n d of b u d g e t W h i c h , c h a r a c t e r i s e s a s e t t l e d j
Civilised,
;
n o n - g a r r i s o n e d and p r o s p e r i o s c o m a u n i t y i s d a r k .
%"
,Ar b p o l i t i c a l . l e a d e r s h i p
a
-' '-­
i s s t i l l i n t h e h a n d s o f t h e s m a l l number' of
which w e r e p r o m i n e n t i n Ottoman t i m e s ,
of w h i c h t h e m o s t n o t a b l e a r e t h e H u s s e i n i s .
:
This f a m i l y c o n t r o l s the most i m p o r t a n t of -the Arab p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s ,
:
Arab P a r t y , w h i c h w a s f o r m a l l y o r g a n i s e d i n 1935..
a l l Arab p a r t i e s i n P a l e s t i n e
8
to a s t a t e , i n which the Arab m a j o r i t y would
1
the P a l e s t i n e
-The o b j e c t i v e s of t h i s and of
r e " t h e ' i m m e d i a t e - s t o p p a g e of J e w i s h immigration-,
i m m e d i a t e p r o h i b i t i o n of t h e s a l e of l a n d to- 3&us,
6,
families
and. t h e c o n c e s s i o n of
the
independence
be-dominant.
-There h a s b e e n n o e v i d e n c e t h a t "the A r a b ; n o t a b l e s who a p p e a r e d b e f o r e t h e
Committee,
:
and -whom t h e C o m m i t t e e v i s i t e d l n
a c c u r a t e l y the v i e w s of t h e i r f o l l o w e r s .
several countries,
.'Ihe A r a b i c p r e s s ,
did not r e f l e c t
f o r example, p r o t e s t s
v e h e m e n t l y , a s . A r a b spokesmen a g a i n s t a J e w i s h i n f l u x of any k i n d ,
tlficate-sfor
even i f the c e r ­
a d m i s s i o n w e r e c o n f i n e d t o old;men.- a n d women a n d t o c h i l d r e n
from'German., d e a t h camps.
In s h o r t ,
absolute:,.-/unqualified r e f u s a l
and t h e n e w l y - f o f m e d - p a r t i . e s , pf t h e L e f t ,
rescued
of t h e A r a b s t o
a c q u i e s c e , in, t h e a d m i s s i o n of a s i n g l e - J e w - . ; t o / P a l e s t i n e i s t h e o u t s t a n d i n g
of A r a b p o l i t i c s . t o d a y l
as
feature
b a s e d on t h e
e m b r y o n i c t r a d e u n i o n movement, d i s p l a y a s i n t r a n s i g e n t a n a t i o n a l i s m a s t h e o l d
leaders. 7.
, .
- '
. ,,
An a d d i t i o n a l r e a s o n f o r t h e ' i n s i s t e n c e of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n A r a b s on i m m e d i a t e
i n d e p e n d e n c e i s t h e i r d e s i r e f o r f u l l membership i n t h e n e w l y formed A r a b L e a g u e .
The'; A r a b s of. P a l e s t i n e b e l i e v e t h e m s e l v e s t o . b e
a
s..,fi.tted f o r self-government as a r e
t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s i n Syria- and Lebanon, who o b t a i n e d t h e i r i n d e p e n d e n c e d u r i n g t h e
' Second.World'War,
The f o r m a t i o n
fidence.
and i n - T r - a n s - J o r d a n w h i c h h a s ' s i n c e become a n i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e .
1
of tha-Jtt ah League h a s g i v e n Arab l e a d e r s i n P a l e s t i n e a g r e a t e r c o n - ,r
They f e e l "that t h e s u p p o r t ,of t h e w h o l e . Arab w o r l d f o r ' t h e i r c a u s e h a s
now b e e n m o b i l i s e d , .
'
:
F u r t h e r m o r e , , t h e p r e s e n c e ' : i n the U n i t e d N a t i a n s c f fare Arab S t a t e s
.
. -,' . / o n e o f . . , .
J
m
^ " P a l e s t i n e pound i s e q u i v a l e n t " t o a pound s t e r l i n g ;
^
o,,,.-.
.
.. - - -
. .GHJJPTER-
III
Pp
g e
3
one of w t a c h . is-, a,memberj of. t h e ; S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l , e n s u r e s t h a t t h e A r a b c a s e w i l l
n o t go.^3r,r.ap£auLt w h s a - ^ v i - a s i i B of P a l e s t i n e i s b r o u g h t b e f o r e t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s ,
8,:
'
J u s t as t h e A r a b p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s a r e ' u n a l t e r a b l y o p p o s e d t o J e w i s h immi­
v
gration,
t h e v a r i o u s Jewish... p a r t i e s , , e v e n t h o u g h some c r i t i c i s e
Jewish State,
the i d e
v
a
are., a l l u n i t e d ' i n t h e i r , advocacy p f .urilimited i m m i g r a t i o n ,
of a
of t h e '
IF
a b o l i t i o n of r e s t r i c t i o n s on t h e - s a l e of l a n d a i d of t h e a b r o g a t i o n of t h e 1939
While-Paper,,
9.
-;
­
These, p a r t i e s a c o e p t t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e J e w i s h Agency w h i c h i s r e c o g n i s e d
by. G r e a t B r i t a i n ,
a c c o r d i n g , t o t h e terras o f
Article 4 authorises
throughout..the.world..
....
the Mandate,
a s t h e i n s t r u m e n t of Jews
t h e Agency a s f o l l o w s :
. "An a p p r o p r i a t e ' J e w i s h a g e n c y s h a l l be r e c o g n i s e d a s a p u b l i c
... -body f o r t h e - p u r p o s e o f / a d v i s i n g
of P a l e s t i n e
and c o o p e r a t i n g w i t h t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
in. such, e c o n o m i c s o c i a l and o t h e r m a t t e r s a s may a f f e c t
the e s t a b l i s h m e n t
of t h e - J e w i s h n a t i o n a l home and t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e
Jewish.population- in Palestine^
the Administration,,
a n d , s u b j e c t a l w a y s t o t h e c o n t r o l of
1
t o a s s i s t and t a k e p a r t i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of t h e
country,,
'- ' .
"The Z i o n i s t O r g a n i s a t i o n ,
constitution
.
so l o n g a s i t s o r g a n i s a t i o n and
a r e . i n t h e o p i n i o n of t h e M a n d a t o r y a p p r o p r i a t e ,
be r e c o g n i s e d a s s u c h agency,.. - I t s h a l l
shall
take steps in consultation
1
w i t h H i s ; B r i t a n n i c M a j e s t y . s-' Government t o s e c u r e
t h e c o o p e r a t i o n of
a l l J e w s who a r e w i l l i n g -to" a s s i s t in- t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of t h e J e w i s h
n a t i o n a l HomeV-^+l
10,
At f i r s t
:
b
;
- -
p­
t h e Agency g a v e Abbe P a l e s t i n e G o v e r n m e n t e f f e c t i v e
With i t s l a r g e r e v e n u e ,
manifold a c t i v i t i e s ,
i t s able administrators^
t h e ,Agency became f i n a l l y
co-operation.
a d v i s e r s and s t a f f ,
and i t s
and s t i l l r e m a i n s t h e m o s t p o t e n t
n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l a u t h o r i t y , i n P a l e s t i n e and i n d e e d i n t h e Middle E a s t ,
Commission d e s c r i b e d i t a s "a Government e x i s t i n g
Government".
The d e s c r i p t i o n
6o,000,
The P e e l
The Agency i s now
b u t none t h e l e s s p o w e r f u l ,
Haganah - t h e . s o - c a l l e d J e w i s h Army d ; t h e
influence
over
s t r e n g t h of w h i c h i s e s t i m a t e d a s over
The J e w s c r e d i t t h e Agency w i t h m o s t of t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s i n P a l e s t i n e
t o t h e i r p r o t e c t i e r , and p r o g r e s s ,
/11. But...
t The J e w i s h Agency f o r P a l e s t i n e w a s r e c o g n i s e d i n 1930 i n l i e u o f t h e . Z i o n i s t
O r g a n i s a t i o n a s t h e a p p r o p r i a t e J e w i s h a g e n c y u n d e r t h e t e r m s of t h e M a n d a t e .
.....
sine
t h e F i r s t W o r l d War. ; U n q u e s t i o n a b l y i t h a s b e e n a t r e m e n d o u s power f o r g o o d and
h a s been i n d i s p e n s a b l e
,
s i d e by s i d e w i t h t h e Mandatory
i s even more a c c u r a t e , t o d a y .
g e n e r a l l y believed: to have u n o f f i c i a l ,
\
6
J
CHAPTER I I I
11-
But t h e Agency h a s become so p o w e r f u l
enhanced b y i t s
accomplishments,
Pose
L,
and i t s p r e s t i g e h a s been so f a r
that i t s firm r e f u s a l
to"oo-operate
;
In carrying'out
the W h i t e P a p e r h a s c a u s e d t h e Government how t o r e g a r d i t a s "a d i s t i n c t l y d a n g e r o u s '
influence.
Viewed from t h e a t a n d - p o i n t of t h e P a l e s t i n e G o v e r n m e n t / ' i t a p p e a r s a s '
a force for d i s u n i t y , p a r t l y f o r reasons outside
r e a s o n o f i t s own a c t i v i t i e s .
the Agency's b o n t f o l / p a r t l y b y '
I t h a d been a p a r t y t o a c t i v i t i e s c a l c u l a t e d t o l e a d
to e s t r a n g e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e Yishuv on t h e one h a n d and t h e P a l e s t i n e
and t h e M a n d a t o r y r n t h e o t h e r ,
1
12,
Government
These'"activities have'undermined'the
authority
...
e
Many c r i t i c i s m s of t h e J e w i s h Agency h a v e been made b e f o r e t h e Committee i n
open and c l o s e d s e s s i o n s ,
by Arabs and o f f i c i a l s
as by A g u d a t h I s r a e l and some i n d i v i d u a l J e w s .
which a r e c e n t r e d on t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t ,
for J e w s , w e r e n o t condemned.
of t h e P a l e s t i n e Government a s w e l l
The A g e n c y ' s c u s t o m a r y
That i s e a s i l y e x p l a i n a b l e ,
f o r i t h a s been one of '
But t h e p r e s e n t
between t h e G o v e r n m e n t and t h e J e w i s h Agency m u s t be c o r r e c t e d i f
i s to be p r o m o t e d and t h e c a u s e of p e a c e i n t h a t c r u c i a l
protected.
Unless t h i s i s achieved,
functions,
m a i n t e n a n c e and g r o w t h of a National- Home
the m o s t s u c c e s s f u l c o l o n i s i n g i n s t r u m e n t s i n h i s t o r y .
relations
the g e n e r a l
welfare
a r e a of t h e w o r l d i s t o be
P a l e s t i n e m i g h t w e l l be p l u n g e d i n t o a c i v i l
war, i n v o l v i n g t h e whole M i d d l e E a s t .
13.
N e i t h e r J e w s n o r A r a b s have been i n c l u d e d i n t h e h i g h e s t r a n k s of
administration,
British officials
as much a u t h o r i t y
hold a l l
the important p o s i t i o n s .
bear o n l y l i m i t e d d i s c r e t i o n
D i s t r i c t and l o c a l o f f i c i a l s ,
and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ,
even' i n
I n c o n s e q u e n c e of t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s ,
Army t e n t s ,
t h e Sea of G a l i l e e ,
^entanglements,
suspicion,
They e x e r c i s e
Arab and Jew a l i k e ,
t h e i r own c o m m u n i t i e s .
P a l e s t i n e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s blamed by A r a b s and J e w s a l i k e f o r
incongruities.
the
a s i n a c o u n t r y w h e r e t h e mass of t h e i n h a b i t a n t s a r e i n a
p r i m i t i v e s t a g e of c i v i l i s a t i o n .
14c
.
and t o t h e c o n s o l i d a t i o n of a c t i v e r e s i s t a n c e by t h e
Yishuv t o t h e G o v e r n m e n t s a u t h o r i t y .
of the A d m i n i s t r a t i o n
­
this
situation.
t h e H o l y Land i s s c a r r e d by s h o c k i n g
tanks, a grim f o r t
and b a r r a c k s o v e r l o o k t h e -waters of
B l o c k h o u s e s , r o a d b a r r i e r s manned by s o l d i e r s ,
tanks in the s t r e e t s , peremptory s e a r c h e s ,
barbed w i r e
s e i z u r e and a r r e s t s on
b o m b i n g s by g a n g s t e r s and s h o t s i n t h e n i g h t a r e now c h a r a c t e r i s t i c .
A curfe?/ i s e n f o r c e d ,
The
and t h e p r e s s of P a l e s t i n e i s s u b j e c t t o c e n s o r s h i p ,
/Palestine...
CHAPTER
III
Page
jj
P a l e s t i n e h a s "become a g a r r i s o n e d b u t r e s t i v e l a n d , " and t h e r e i s l i t t l e
that the t r a n q u i l i t y
d e a r t o p e o p l e of good w i l l ,
J e w s , Moslems,
probability
and C h r i s t i a n s
,
a l i k e , w i l l be r e s t o r e d u n t i l v a s t l y b e t t e r r e l a t i o n s o r e e s t a b l i s h e d among t h e
p r i n c i p a l e l e m e n t s of. t h e community,
assured,
including
the Administration.
t h e v a r i o u s g r o u p s c o u l d be u n i t e d on t h e b a s i s of t h o s e
With
fundamentals
w h i c h a r e oommcn t o c i v i l i s e d p e o p l e who w i s h t o l i v e t h e i r own l i v e s ,
and u n t e r r i f i e d
by t h e p o s s i b i l i t y
r i s e i n open o r C o v e r t " r e b e l l i o n
itself.
that f i r s t
one f a c t i o n
a g p i n s t one a n o t h e r ,
that
undeterred
and. t h e n - a n o t h e r . - w i l l
or a g a i n s t t h e
Government
......
C H A P T E R
GEOGRAPHY
I y.
AMI)' BCOHOMICS.
Geography.
Palestine,
a b o u t t h e s i z e of Wales o r t h e S t a t e of Vermont^ i s
i c a l l y a n i n t e g r a l p a r t of S y r i a ,
h a v i n g no n a t u r a l f r o n t i e r
A marked n a t u r a l d i v i s i o n w i t h i n t h e c o u n t r y s e p a r a t e s
on t h e n o r t h .
t h e r i c h s o i l of t h e
s t r i p and t h e p l a i n of E s d r a e l o n from t h e r o c k y m o u n t a i n a r e a s ,
p a r t of t h e y e a r ,
and from t h e s o u t h e r n
a r e t h r i v i n g towns - A c r e , H a i f a ,
v a r i e t y of i n d u s t r i e s .
deserts.
Tel-Aviv, Jaffa
Here, moreover,
geograpb­
coastal
parched for a l a r g e
I n t h e wide c o a s t a l p l a i n
there
and Gaza - w i t h p o r t s and a
i s t o b e found i n t e n s i v e c u l t i v a t i o n ,
by
Arab and J e w s l i k e , w i t h a t t e n t i o n c o n c e n t r a t e d on t h e old a n d p r o f i t a b l e p u r s u i t
c i t r u s growing..
' The m o u n t a i n s c o n t a i n n o t o n l y d e s o l a t e a r e a s of b a r r e n r o c k and
deforested h i l l s i d e ,
but a l s o f e r t i l e
v a l l e y s and b a s i n s w h e r e c e r e a l s a r e grown;
i n a d d i t i o n r e m a r k a b l e r e s u l t s have b e e n a c h i e v e d i n t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of
v i n e s and f r u i t
of
olives,
t r e e s on t i n y t e r r a c e d s t r i p s c o n s t r u c t e d and m a i n t a i n e d w i t h
patience-and s k i l l .
I n summer t h e h i l l s a r e d r y .
I n w i n t e r heavy r a i n s
tear
away s o i l from e v e r y h i l l s i d e t h a t i s n o t a d e q u a t e l y p r o t e c t e d b y t e r r a c i n g
forest
cover,
and c o n s t a n t w a r f a r e
2.
Nearly;all
has. t o be c a r r i e d on a g a i n s t
great
or
erosion.
t h e J e w s of P a l e s t i n e a n d a l m o s t h a l f t h e A r a b s l i v e i n t h e
p l a i n s , t h o u g h t h e s e c o n t a i n l e s s t h a n o n e - s e v e n t h of t h e t o t a l a r e a of P a l e s t i n e ,
w h i l e t h e m o u n t a i n s and t h e s o u t h e r n d e s e r t s a r e p o p u l a t e d ,
Jewish colonies,
e x c l u s i v e l y by A r a b s .
B o t h Arab and J e w p u t
and c u l t u r a l c l a i m s t D t h e w h o l e of P a l e s t i n e ,
a l m o s t r a i n l e s s and w i t h more rock-, t h a n s o i l ,
small,
s e m i - n o m a d i c o r nomadic A r a b p o p u l a t i o n ,
a s a c h a l l e n g e t o t h e i r powers of c o l o n i s a t i o n ;
further
forward.historical
t h e i r emptiness appears to
The s i g n i f i c a n c e
the.Jews
Geography, indeed,
c l a i m s of b o t h s i d e s t o t h e w h o l e c o u n t r y .
of P a l e s t i n e i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l a f f a i r s ,
communication.
through the country.
With a
t h e Arabs r e g a r d p r o p o s a l s f o r Jewish s e t t l e m e n t as y e t
possible s t r a t e g i c importance,
n a t u r a l l i n e s of
the
and, d e s p i t e the unpromising' o u t ­
a r e t o o s m a l l and t h e m o u n t a i n s t o o p o o r t o s u b s i s t a s i n d e p e n d e n t
3.
:
a r e not u n c o n t e s t e d .
e v i d e n c e of t h e w e l l - p l a n n e d " c r e e p i n g c o n q u e s t " .
explains the intransigent
scattered
and e v e n t h e g r e a t d e s e r t s t o
south,
l o o k on any e c o n o m i c t e s t ,
a p a r t from
d e r i v e s l a r g e l y from t h e f a c t
portly
The p l a i n s
economies.
a p a r t from
that it
lies
Major r a i l w a y and r o a d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s
its
across
pass
I t i s o n t h e r o u t e b e t w e e n two g r e a t c e n t r e s of A r a b c u l t u r e ,
/ C a i r o and
CHAPTER IV
C a i r o and Damascus;
between Egypt,
o t h e r member S t a t e s ;
-
politics
^^
the a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
c e n t r e of t h e Arab L e a g u e , and
and b e t w e e n I r a q and t h e newly i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e of Trans-Jordan
a n d - t h e i r o u t l e t s to the Mediterranean;
air traffic
PAGE' 2
of t h e f u t u r e . . .
and i t
h a s g r e a t p o t e n t i a l i m p o r t a n c e i n the
P a l e s t i n e i s a l s o d e e p l y - i n v o l v e d i n t h e b u s i n e s s and ft
of the- i n t e r n a t i o n a l t r a d e i n o i l ,
for,
a l t h o u g h t h e r e a r e no xvells i n t h e
c o u n t r y , a p i p e - l i n o d e l i v e r s ; , a s t r e a m of c r u d e o i l t o t h e g r e a t r e f i n e r i e s
and.from t h e r e t a n k e r s . d e l i v e r i t
a t . Haifa;
t o c o u n t r i e s a r o u n d and beyond t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n ;
The A m e r i c a n c o n c e s s i o n i n S a u d i A r a b i a may p r o d u c e a n o t h e r s t r e a m c o n v e r g i n g on
much t h e same p o i n t of d i s t r i b u t i o n .
-
Population.
4.
According to o f f i c i a l
estimates,
t h e p o p u l a t i o n of P a l e s t i n e grew from 750,000
a t t h e c e n s u s of 1922 t o 1 , 7 6 5 , 0 0 0 a t t h e end of 1944.
In t h i s period the Jewish
p a r t of t h e p o p u l a t i o n r o s e from 8 4 , 0 0 0 t o 5 5 4 , 0 0 0 and from 13 t o 31 p e r c e n t ,
whole.
Three-fourths
immigration.
was f a l l i n g ,
of t h i s e x p a n s i o n of t h e J e w i s h community was a c c o u n t e d f o r by
Meanwhile t h e A r a b s , t h o u g h t h e i r p r o p o r t i o n of t h e t o t a l
immigration.
Of t h i s Moslem g r o w t h by 4 7 2 , 0 0 0 ,
The e x p a n s i o n of t h e A r a b
o n l y 1 9 , 0 0 0 was a c c o u n t e d f o r by
community b y n a t u r a l i n c r e a s e h a s b e e n i n fat
one of t h e ' . m o s t s t r i k i n g f e a t u r e s of P a l e s t i n e ' s
s o c i a l h i s t o r y u n d e r t h e Mandate,
The p r e s e n t d e n s i t y of p o p u l a t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e i s o f f i c a l l y
179 p e r s q u a r e m i l e .
If
from t h e c a l c u l a t i o n ,
6,
population
had i n c r e a s e d by a n e v e n g r e a t e r number - t h e Moslems a l o n e from 589,000
to 1 , 0 6 1 , 0 0 0 \
5,
of the
the largely d e s e r t s u b - d i s t r i c t
the figure is
estimated
of B e e r s h e b a i s
excluded
336.
The C o m m i t t e e o b t a i n e d - e s t i m a t e s of t h e p r o b a b l e f u t u r e g r o w t h of
p o p u l a t i o n from P r o f e s s o r N o t e s t e i n , D i r e c t o r
at Princeton University,
at
of t h e O f f i c e
Palestino's
of P o p u l a t i o n R e s e a r c h
from Dr. D. V. G l a s s , R e s e a r c h S e c r e r a r y of t h e
Population
I n v e s t i g a t i o n C o m m i t t e e I n London, and i n P a l e s t i n e from t h e Commissioner
M i g r a t i o n a n d S t a t i s t i c s a n d t h e Government S t a t i s t i c i a n .
n o n - J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n made b y t h e l a s t - n a m e d ,
for
,The e s t i m a t e s f o r
on v a r i o u s h y p o t h e s e s b u t w i t h
the
the
c o n s t a n t a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e r e would b e no n o n - J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n or e m i g r a t i o n ,
4-
It is difficult
statistics
t o e s t i m a t e t h e Arab p o p u l a t i o n p r e c i s e l y ,
a r e c o m p i l e d on a r e l i g i o u s b a s i s a n d a s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n of
C h r i s t i a n population i s not ^ r a b .
. 136,000
as the o f f i c i a l
- .
At t h e end Df 1944 t h e C h r i s t i a n s
- '
'
' '
^
the
numbered
:
/ranged
from
1'/ "
: :
' CHAPTER IV :-
TAGS, 3
r a n g e d f r o m 1 , 6 5 2 , 0 0 0 t o 1 , 7 6 7 , 0 0 0 a t t h e end of 1959.
a s s u m i n g t h e a b s e n c e of n o n - J e w i s h m i g r a t i o n ,
arrived at a figure
of 1 , 8 7 6 , 0 0 0 .
Professor Notestein,
e x t e n d e d h i s c a l c u l a t i o n s t o 1970 a n d
The C o m m i s s i o n e r f o r M i g r a t i o n p r e d i c t e d a n Arab
p o p u l a t i o n of 1 , 5 6 5 , 0 0 0 i n 1960 and 1 , 8 2 0 , 0 0 0 i n 1970.
The h i g h e s t e s t i m a t e s w e r e
t h o s e of D r . G l a s s , who a n t i c i p a t e d a s e t t l e d Moslem p o p u l a t i o n ( i . e .
C h r i s t i a n Arabs)
of 1 , 6 3 6 , 0 0 0 i n 1961 and 2 , 2 0 4 , 0 0 0 i n 1971.
J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n a t t h e end of 1959,
i n the i n t e r v a l ,
7.
also
excluding
Por the
probable
on t h e s u p p o s i t i o n t h a t no i m m i g r a t i o n
t h e Government S t a t i s t i c i a n p u t f o r w a r d t h e f i g u r e
of
the
occurred
664,000.
The J e w i s h community, i n t h e a b s e n c e of I m m i g r a t i o n , would form a s t e a d i l y
d i m i n i s h i n g p r o p o r t i o n of t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n .
r a t e s of n a t u r a l i n c r e a s e ,
­
T h i s i s c l e a r from t h e c o m p a r a t i v e
shown i n t h e t a b l e b e l o w :
- .
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE OE NATURAL INCREASE PER 1 , 0 0 0
Years.
Moslems.
1922/25
'
Jews.
Christians.
23.27
20.44 .
20.16
1926/30
25.19
22.70
20.60'
1931/35
24.97
20.91
20.85
1936/40
27.68
17.75
20.77'
1941/44
30.71
17.83
18.89
The h i g h Arab r a t e of n a t u r a l i n c r e a s e i s a c c o u n t e d f o r b y a f e r t i l i t y
i s among t h e h i g h e s t r e c o r d e d i n t h e w o r l d ,
which
and by t h e d i s a p p e a r a n c e under t h e
Mandate of s u c h c o u n t e r - b a l a n c i n g f a c t o r s a s c o n s t r i p t i o n f o r t h e Ottoman army and. a
h i g h i n c i d e n c e of m a l a r i a .
The f a c t t h a t t h e r a t e i s s t i l l r i s i n g seems, t o be. due
principally to declining mortality,
p a r t i c u l a r l y infant
mortality.
.
Economic C o n t r a s t s .
8.
On t h e economic s i d e P a l e s t i n e i s a c o u n t r y of marked c o n t r a s t s .
A r a b s have r e m a i n e d p r e p o n d e r a n t l y r u r a l ,
in the Jewish sector,
While
along with the
the
"close
s e t t l e m e n t on t h e l a n d " which h a s b e e n l a i d down a s a g u i d i n g p r i n c i p l e
of J e w i s h
colonisation,
industrial
development.
character
t h e r e has been,
Moreover,
particularly i n l a t e r years,
a remarkable
t h e new J e w i s h c o l o n i s a t i o n h a s assumed more and more t h e ^
of a s o c i a l i s t e x p e r i m e n t . . :
F o r t h o u g h a t many p o i n t s i t
enterprise,
retains,
particu­
l a r l y i n u r b a n i n d u s t r y and t r a d e ,
t h e form of p r i v a t e
i t i s everywhere. .
guided and s u p p o r t e d - I n f i n a n c e ,
t e c h n i c a l a d v i c e and o t h e r m a t t e r s - by t h e
great,
complex of J e w i s h u n d e r t a k i n g s w h i c h c o - o p e r a t e i n t h e b u i l d i n g of t h e N a t i o n a l Home.
.
v
.
.
"
-
A
-
.
/9. ,
The
.....
CHAPTER
9.
IV
-
PAGE
h­
The p a s s a g e of y e a r s has o n l y s h a r p e n e d t h e c o n t r a s t i n s t r u c t u r e "between t h e
two e c o n o m i e s .
On t h e Arab s i d e , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g some d e v e l o p m e n t i n
and t r a d e u n i o n i s m , i n d i v i d u a l i s m i s s t i l l
s c a l e peasant farming,
characteristic.
In agriculture
s t i l l l a r g e l y on t h e s u b s i s t e n c e p r i n c i p l e ,
and t h e many s i g n s now v i s i b l e
co-operation
small­
remains
predominant
of e n t e r p r i s e and e x p a n s i o n i n A r a b i n d u s t r y
1
t o t h e same p a t t e r n of s t r o n g i n d i v i d u a l i s m .
conform
I n t h e J e w i s h economy, on t h e o t h e r
h a n d , i s t o b'e found a n e x u s of c e n t r a l i s e d
control.
b e s i d e s b e i n g a l a n d o w n e r 'on a l a r g e s c a l e ,
i s a p r o m o t e r and f i n a n c i e r
Thus t h e J e w i s h -Agency,
of
agricultural
settlement,
and has l a r g e and v a r i e d p a r t i c i p a t i o n s
Histadfuth,
which i s c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e Agency, i s by no means s i m p l y a
f e d e r a t i o n of w o r k e r s '
organisation;
it
i n s u r a n c e , and i t
unions. .
It is,
i n i n d u s t r i a l and o t h e r
in addition,
a vast
consumers'
operates large contributory social services,
h a s l a t t e r l y become a c a p i t a l i s t
of members "of H i s t a d r u t b ,
co-operative
employer, being the sole
or
constructional,
There have o c c u r r e d l a t e l y s e v e r a l
as a t r a d e union,
enterprises,
i n c l u d i n g unemployment­
c o n t r o l l i n g owner of a w i d e and e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g r a n g e of i n d u s t r i a l ,
f i n a n c i a l and s e r v i c e u n d e r t a k i n g s .
^
s t r i k i n g i n a wage d i s p u t e
instances
against
H i s t a d r u t h a s owner of t h e e m p l o y i n g b u s i n e s s ^
10.
Not t o o v e r - e m p h a s i s t h e c l e a v a g e ,
it
s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h e r e a r e p o i n t s of
c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e Arab and J e w i s h e c o n o m i e s , a s i n t h e P a l e s t i n e P o t a s h Works.
. T h e r e i s i n d e e d some l i m i t e d i n t e r d e p e n d e n c e , w h e r e f o r e x a m p l e t h e J e w i s h
b u y s v e g e t a b l e s from a n A r a b g r o w e r .
B u t t h e r e c a n be few i n s t a n c e s
c o u n t r y b e i n g so s h a r p l y d i v i d e d i n i t s e c o n o m i c ,
Only i n c i t r i c u l t u r e ,
l e t a l o n e s o c i a l and p o l i t i c a l ,
do we f i n d c l o s e a s s o c i a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e two s e c t o r s .
labour.
of so s m a l l a
w h i c h b e f o r e t h e w a r p r o v i d e d t h e s t a p l e e x p o r t of
b e t w e e n t h e two c o m m u n i t i e s ,
housewife
It
basij
Palestine,
i s shared about
equally
and many J e w i s h c i t r u s g r o v e s emplqy some i r r e g u l a r Arab
I n d i v i d u a l i s m i s t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c form of e n t e r p r i s e i n b o t h s e c t o r s of
the i n d u s t r y , though war-time d i f f i c u l t i e s
have c a l l e d f o r s p e c i a l m e a s u r e s of
Government a s s i s t a n c e , w h i c h i n t u r n hove t e n d e d t o b r i n g t h e two t o g e t h e r i n c o ­
operative protective
11.
measures.
E v e r y w h e r e i s t o b e s e e n a marked d i s p a r i t y b e t w e e n t h e s t a n d a r d s of
however measured,
sistently
of t h e A r a b a n d J e w i s h c o m m u n i t i e s .
J e w i s h wage r a t e s a r e
living,
con­
h i g h e r t h a n A r a b , t h o s e f o r u n s k i l l e d l a b o u r b e i n g more t h a n t w i c e a s high.
T h e r e i s o n l y a l i m i t e d r a n g e of - c o m p e t i t i o n b e t w e e n t h e m ;
of n a t u r a l p r e s s u r e t o w a r d s e q u a l i s a t i o n .
and t h e r e f o r e
H a b i t s of c o n s u m p t i o n ,
r e l i a n c e on t h e m a r k e t , w h e t h e r f o r s u p p l i e s o r i n c o m e ,
a minimum
t h e d e g r e e of
h o u s i n g s t a n d a r d s a n d s o for-tj
/differ
- CHAPTER
L-ffor widely,
limited.
IV
-
PAGE 5 and i n g e n e r a l t h e s o c i a l s e r v i c e s a v a i l a b l e t o t h e Arab a r e
The war h a s done l i t t l e ,
if
anything,
t o weaken t h e
extremely
division.
W a r - t i m e Economic D e v e l o p m e n t s .
12.
In recent years,
t h e war and c h a n g e s due t o t h e w a r have b e e n t h e m a i n
v i n f l u e n c e s g o v e r n i n g t h e s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g and e c o n o m i c p r o s p e r i t y of b o t h
Though t h e m a r g i n b e t w e e n J e w i s h a n d A r a b wage r a t e s u n d e r w e n t i n g e n e r a l
c h a n g e , t h e i n c i d e n c e of t a x a t i o n a n d r a t i o n i n g ,
tho c o s t of l i v i n g ,
sectors.
little
t o g e t h e r w i t h s u b s i d i e s i n a i d of
t e n d e d t o d e p r e s s t h e h i g h e r J e w i s h s t a n d a r d Df l i v i n g more
than
the Arab.
Another r e s u l t
of t h e war was t h a t t h e J e w i s h s e c t o r of t h e economy became
i n c r e a s i n g l y u r b a n and i n d u s t r i a l ,
w h i l e t h e Arab s e c t o r ,
u t i l i s a t i o n of i t s l i m i t e d i n d u s t r i a l
In both sectors,
remained overwhelmingly
fuller
agricultural.
t h e Government t o o k a n i n c r e a s i n g l y a c t i v e p a r t i n d e t e r m i n i n g
shape and d i r e c t i o n of economic
13.
capacity,
notwithstanding the
the
effort.
The c l o s i n g of t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n t o A l l i e d s h i p p i n g c u t P a l e s t i n e off from t h e
chief market for
her c i t r u s f r u i t s
and t h e c h i e f
s o u r c e of h e r i m p o r t e d
supplies.
The s p r e a d of t h e war zone t o t h e M i d d l e E a s t c o n v e r t e d P a l e s t i n e i n t o a b a s e a s w e l l
as a n a r s e n a l .
Large numbers of t r o o p s had t o b e q u a r t e r e d t h e r e .
food a n d o t h e r n e c e s s i t i e s of l i f e
a n d of war m a t e r i a l s
S u p p l i e s of ­
had t o b e p r o v i d e d
or i m p o r t e d w h e r e p o s s i b l e from n e i g h b o u r i n g M i d d l e E a s t c o u n t r i e s ,
themselves
j e c t e d b y t h e same c o m b i n a t i o n of c a u s e s t o s e v e r e e c o n o m i c p r e s s u r e .
i n d u s t r i e s w e r e , a s f a r and a s f a s t
as possible,
locally
sub­
Existing
r e d i r e c t e d i n t o war p r o d u c t i o n .
E s t a b l i s h e d u n d e r t a k i n g s were e n l a r g e d and new o n e s s e t up, w i t h s u p p o r t ,
i n order
c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e n e e d s of t h e m i l i t a r y c a m p a i g n and b u i l d up a. h i g h e r d e g r e e of
sufficiency.
Thus. P a l e s t i n e became a n - i m p o r t a n t
processes.
s o u r c e of s u p p l y of m a n u f a c t u r e d goods n o t
only f o r . m i l i t a r y p u r p o s e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e a r e a b u t f o r c i v i l i a n n e e d s i n
countries.
self­
I n t h i s d e v e l o p m e n t t h e v a r i e t y of m a n u f a c t u r e s was b r o a d e n e d t o ­
i n c l u d e a number of more c o m p l i c a t e d , m e c h a n i c a l and c h e m i c a l
14.
to
surrounding
The s k i l l and i n v e n t i v e n e s s of t h e J e w i s h i m m i g r a n t s of p r e - w a r
proved an i n v a l u a b l e a s s e t ,
and t h e d i r e c t e d e f f o r t was s u p p o r t e d b y t h e J e w i s h Agency
and t h e o t h e r e s t a b l i s h e d o r g a n s of J e w i s h s e t t l e m e n t .
Notwithstanding the
of maximum f o o d s u p p l y , t h e J e w i s h economy became s t i l l more c o n c e n t r a t e d
industrial activity,
years
upon
a n d " c l o s e s e t t l e m e n t upon t h e l a n d " was f o r c e d f u r t h e r
t h e b a c k g r o u n d a s t h e r u l i n g p r i n c i p l e of e x p a n s i o n .
.',
'
-v
necessity
/15.
into
The
CHAPTER IV- , 15.
- PAGE 6
The war had y e t a n o t h e r d i s t o r t i n g e f f e c t ,
"from f i n a n c i a l
transactions.
which sprang
Vast m i l i t a r y expenditure
P a l e s t i n e f o r "both goods and c i v i l i a n s e r v i c e s ,
along with
shortage
stringency
This r e s u l t e d i n r i s i n g p r i c e s ,
wage r a t e s and s t i l l more r a p i d l y r i s i n g e a r n i n g s ,
large
s h a r e d b y b o t h t h e J e w s and A r a b s .
rising
profits
and a r a p i d . g r o w t h of m o n e y - w e a l t h ( i n c l u d i n g b a n k d e p o s i t s
hoarded c u r r e n c y ) ,
^
in
of s h i p p i n g and p o t e n t i a l I n w a r d c a r g o e s , b r o u g h t a b o u t a
i n s u p p l i e s and i n l a b o u r .
-
and
Taxation
was i n c r e a s e d : b u t t a x a t i o n and v o l u n t a r y s a v i n g w e n t o n l y a s m a l l
part
of t h e way i n d r a i n i n g o f f
Rationing,
t h e f l o w of u n s p e n d a b l e
so f a r a s i t was a p p l i e d ,
p r o m p t i t u t e the e f f e c t s
failed
to check with
of c o m p e t i t i v e b u y i n g .
of t h e c o s t of. l i v i n g w e r e o n l y s u c c e s s f u l
1
w i d e r a n g e of m i l i t a r y s t o r e s a n d e s s e n t i a l
industrial
c i v i l i a n goods.
of a
But
t r e n d was r e s t r a i n e d o n l y t o an
t h a t made P a l e s t i n e ' 3 e x p e r i e n c e l e s s a l a r m i n g t h a n
16.
resources.
t h e Government k e p t a b r a k e on t h e r i s e i n p r i c e s
i n general the I n f l a t i o n a r y
aid
i n k e e p i n g a few b a r e
By a l l o c a t i n g raw m a t e r i a l s and b y c l o s e c o s t i n g of
surrounding
sufficient
Subsidies in
e s s e n t i a l s w i t h i n t h e r a n g e of t h e p o o r e s t p e o p l e s
processes,
incomes.
extent
that-of
countries.
As t o e x t e r n a l f i n a n c e s ,
nominally a d e b t o r country -
whereas P a l e s t i n e
had b e e n
hitherto
"nominally" i n the sense t h a t
d e b t o r s h i p o n c a p i t a l a c c o u n t d i d not e n t a i l
t h e normal
her
current
r e m i t t a n c e s ' on a c c o u n t of i n t e r e s t and a m o r t i s a t i o n - t h e vrar '
changed h e r s t a t u s t o t h a t of a c r e d i t o r .
assets,
however, b e i n g c o n f i n e d w i t h i n t h e s t e r l i n g a r e a ,
c o n v e r t e d i n t o goods u n t i l
a full
The b u l k of h e r
!'hard
cannot b e
G r e a t B r i t a i n i s o n c e more a b l e t o r e s u m e
f l o w of e x p o r t s o r t o r e l e a s e
will into
overseas
sterling for transmutation
at
currencies".
Post-war Prospects,
17.
it
At t h e t i m e of t h e C o m m i t t e e ' s
c o u l d b y no means b e s a i d t h a t
of w a r p r e s s u r e s
investigations in Palestine,
e v e n t h e more t r a n s i t o r y
upon t h e economy had p a s s e d a w a y .
o f . t h e p o s t - w a r economy i s s t i l l
results
The p a t t e r n
u n d e t e r m i n e d - and t h i s
without
allowing f o r the omnipresent u n c e r t a i n t y concerning the p o l i t i c a l
'"'
' / f u t u r e of.
-
(
CHAPTER IV
future
of t h e c o u n t r y .
somewhat;
b u t t h e c o n t i n u e d s h o r t a g e of i m p o r t e d s u p p l i e s
little
effect
o b v i o u s unemployment had a p p e a r e d ,
t h e f l o w of i t s p r o d u c t s i n t o t h e
a natural
civilian
t h u s f a r on t h e g e n e r a l economic s i t u a t i o n . . No
b u t some c o n c e a l e d unemployment was s a i d
and e a r n i n g s of f a c t o r y l a b o u r had p r o b a b l y d i m i n i s h e d .
and wage r a t e s r e m a i n o b s t i n a t e l y
18.
has a f f o r d e d
off
.The Arab b o y c o t t of P a l e s t i n e J e w i s h p r o d u c t s had bad, when t h e Committee
was i n t h e c o u n t r y ,
exist,
Pago 7
Even b e f o r e t h e war ended,' war o r d e r s had f a l l e n
protection to industry in shifting
£/(market,
-
The c o s t of
the long i n t e r v a l
r e s u l t i n g i n s h o c k i n g c o n g e s t i o n ­ w h i c h b e g a n w i t h t h e d i s t u r b a n c e s - of
and c o n t i n u e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w a r , when a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n a l
There i s ,
however,
1936-39
a c t i v i t y was
concentrated
Q u i t e a p a r t from t h e v a l u e
l a n d , w h i c h has r i s e n i n o r d i n a t e l y i n r e c e n t y e a r s , b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s a r e
e x p e n s i v e , w h i l e t i m b e r , n e a r l y a l l of w h i c h has t o be i m p o r t e d ,
up t o E . P .
of s k i l l e d a r t i s a n s ,
have s e c u r e d a d d i t i o n a l
such a s t h r e e weeks'' p a i d h o l i d a y and a p e n s i o n scheme.
19..
The s i t u a t i o n i s ,
20 a c u b i c m e t r e ­ f a r
indeed,
f o r one t h i n g t h e q u e s t i o n ,
earning
therefore,
Oreai..Britain.
r e p l e t e w i t h e l e m e n t s of u n c e r t a i n t y .
d e b a t a b l e on p r e - w a r e x p e r i e n c e ,
As a
benefits
Building costs,
higher than in
There
hew f a r t h e
It
I
"whether t h e m a r k e t a s a w h o l e i s l i k e l y
I
Middle E a s t ,
I
forces,
I
i n c o m e s p r o v i d e d f r o m a b r o a d , t h o u g h more p e a c e f u l
to s h r i n k i f more, p e a c e f u l
o r a change i n p o l i t i c a l s t a t u s , r e s u l t
i n c l u d i n g p o l i c e and c i v i l i a n r e s i d e n t s ,
hand i n d u c e a f u l l e r
f l o w of t o u r i s t s .
i s a m a t t e r of
of
conjecture
conditions i n the
i n a l a r g e w i t h d r a w a l of
British
and a c o n s e q u e n t r e d u c t i o n of
c o n d i t i o n s would on t h e
other
:
A r i s i n g a g a i n - f r o m w a r - t i m e . g r o w t h of
i n d u s t r y i s t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h e h i g h c o s t s of p r o d u c t i o n , ; a n d i n f e r i o r
of some p r o d u c t s ,
is
consolidation
and f u r t h e r g r o w t h of. J e w i s h i n d u s t r y and t r a d e a r e d e p e n d e n t upon m a i n t e n a c e
t h e momentum p r o v i d e d by c o n t i n u i n g i m m i g r a t i o n .
of
extremely
is scarce.
some b u i l d i n g o p e r a t i v e s . a r e
3 a day, and, w i t h i n r e c e n t times,
a r e found t o b e r o u g h l y L . P .
­
some n a t u r a l h e s i t a t i o n i n u n d e r t a k i n g a
l a r g e b u i l d i n g programme w h i l e c o s t s r e m a i n so h i g h .
r e s u l t of t h e s h o r t a g e
living
high,
Ho u s e - b u i l d i n g i s s l o w l y g e t t i n g u n d e r w e i g h a f t e r
upon m i l i t a r y w o r k s .
to
i n J e w i s h i n d u s t r y - w i l l p e r m i t t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a
p o s i t i o n i n t h e home m a r k e t w i t h o u t i n o r d i n a t e p r o t e c t i o n .
There i s t h e
q u e s t i o n how f a r e x t e r n a l m a r k e t s c a n be r e t a i n e d ­ e v e n a l l o w i n g f o r
quality
firm
related
special
:
a d v a n t a g e s i n t h e new d i a m o n d - c u t t i n g i n d u s t r y a n d t h e f a s h i o n and women's
s p e c i a l t y t r a d e s which t o g e t h e r a r e thought to
have o u t s t a n d i n g p r o s p e c t s f o r
/yielding.,
y i e l d i n g r e v e n u e from a b f cad
;
i n t h e ' 'f a c e 'of ' c o m p e t i t i o n from a d v a n c e d
c o u n t r i e s - a n d p o s s i b l e c o n t i n u a t i o n of t h e b o y c o t t
Arab S t a t e s .
the inflated
industrial
of J e w i s h ' - p r o d u c t s i n neighbourinj
A g a i n , e v e n t h o u g h i n t e r n a l c o n d i t i o n s m i g h t become f u l l y a d j u s t e d
to
s t r u c t u r e of p r i c e s and' c o s t s , t h e g r o s s o v e r - v a l u a t i o n of t h e '
.
.
,
.
i
P a l e s t i n i a n pound i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e pound s t e r l i n g p r e s e n t s a f u r t h e r
impediment
to successful
competitive
c o m p e t i t i o n i n e x p o r t m a r k e t s and a n a d d e d i n d u c e m e n t t o
imports,
20.
I t . i s sometimes c l a i m e d t h a t t h e wage s t r u c t u r e i n P a l e s t i n e i s f a r more
e l a s t i c than elsewhere,
so t h a t r e d u c t i o n s i n w a g e - c o s t s , and p r i c e s might
smoothly and c o n c u r r e n t l y once t h e p r o c e s s had b e g u n ;
proceed
b u t t h e w a r - t i m e wage
i.
i n c r e a s e s have b e e n b y no means w h o l l y - i n t h e ' f o r m of c o s t - o f - l i v i n g b o n u s e s - basic
r i s e s have b e e n w i d e s p r e a d and s u b s t a n t i a l .
The C o m m i t t e e c o u l d n o t b u t
t h a t a t t h e t i m e of i t s v i s i t t h e c o s t - o f - l i v i n g
2 5 0 . a s compared w i t h a p r e - w a r f i g u r e
of 100;
i n d e x number s t i l l
s t o o d above
t h a t l i m i t e d s u p p l i e s of
i n f e r i o r b u t t e r w e r e s e l l i n g a t t h e e q u i v a l e n t , of 1 1 / -
observe'
a p o u n d , and t h a t ,
sometimes
in-one
of t h e f a c t o r i e s v i s i t e d , w o r k e r s a l r e a d y r e c e i v i n g L . P . 12. a w e e k w e r e / p u t t i n g In
60 i n s t e a d of t h e s t a n d a r d 48 h o u r s i n o r d e r to- make e n d s m e e t .
I t r e m a i n s t o be
s e e n w h e t h e r t h e c l a i m of e l a s t i c i t y w i l l b e f a l s i f i e d b y w i d e s p r e a d r e s i s t a n c e t o
downward a d j u s t m e n t
of wagd r a t e s .
Some t a k e t h e v i e w ' t h a t
increased
immigration
. . .
and a f r e e f l o w of i m p o r t e d s u p p l i e s w i l l " a u t o m a t i c a l l y " , p r e c i p i t a t e such a f a l l
i n wages and. p r i c e s a s w i l l s u b s t a n t i a l l y r e d u c e c o s t s of p r o d u c t i o n and b r i n g tho
c o s t of l i v i n g down t o s o m e t h i n g l i k e t h e B r i t i s h l e v e l . . . Others c o m p l a i n t h a t
tho
Government d o e s n o t h i n g . t o r e d u c e t h e c o s t of l i v i n g , w i t h o u t b e i n g q u i t e s u r e : what
t h e Government ought to dD a b o u t i t .
Meanwhile p o l i t i c a l and o t h e r c a u s e s - h i n d e r
t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n of l i q u i d s a v i n g s d n t o l o n g - t e r m i n v e s t m e n t ,
l a r g e u n u s e d or. u n u s a b l e money r e s o u r c e s ,
war,
and t h e p r e s s u r e of
p o u r e d o u t i n t h e p r o c e s s of f i n a n c i n g the
i s substantially, unrelieved,
-b;
E c o n o m i c E x p a n s i o n and I m m i g r a t i o n
21,
Leaving a s i d e - t h e s e , u n c e r t a i n t i e s
t h a t , , g i v e n some c e n t r a l d i r e c t i o n ,
o f . t h e moment, t h e r e c a n b e l i t t l e
more c o - o p e r a t i v e e f f o r t ,
doubt
and a p e a c e f u l
p o l i t i c a l a t m o s p h e r e , P a l e s t i n e c o u l d b e made t o , p r o v i d e f u r t h e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s
prosperous settlement,
i t s present population.
for
c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h an. i m p r o v e m e n t i n t h e l i v i n g s t a n d a r d s
Some p r o g r e s s t o w a r d s . c e n t r a l d i r e c t i o n .was made u n d e r
s t r e s s of W a r , and a r r a n g e m e n t s a r e i n h a n d - t o p r o v i d e f o r i t s c o n t i n u a n c e .
The
War S u p p l y B o a r d , u n d e r w h i c h t h e c a p a c i t y of. l o c a l . i n d u s t r y was e n l a r g e d and ...
/directed
of
C
CHAPTER IV
d i r e c t e d to war p r o d u c t i o n ,
Page 9
i s s h o r t l y t o Toe t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o a
D e p a r t m e n t , of Commerce and I n d u s t r y .
notwithstanding
-
full-fledged
The Y/ar Economic A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l ,
t h e w i t h d r a w a l of t h e A r a b members, i s t o c a r r y on i t s '
work i n - t h e - s h a p i n g . a n d a p p l i c a t i o n of o f f i c i a l
policy. -
consultative
The- Government ' -of- -
P a l e s t i n e i t s e l f - h a s b r p u g h t to:, a n .advanced s t a g e a programme-of p o s t - w a r
cove r i n g , . l a n d r e c l a m a t i o n ,
afforestation
development
and o t h e r s o i l c o n s e r v a t i o n measures
and. i r r i g a t i o n .
22,
In addition,
t h o e x p a n s i o n of P a l e s t i n e ' s economy h a s engaged a g r e a t
of a t t e n t i o n on t h e p a r t
critical
of n o n - o f f i c i a l b o d i e s .
Souse w i t n e s s e s have b e e n
deal
severely
of t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n f o r l a c k of v i s i o n and u n r e a d i n e s s t o g i v e , p o s i t i v e
support-to proposals f o r expansion.
O t h e r s have e x p r e s s e d t h e v i e w t h a t
i n d e p e n d e n c e w o u l d c l e a r t h e way t o more v i g o r o u s p u b l i c and. p r i v a t e
O p i n i o n h a s b e e n a l m o s t unanimous a s t o t h e c r a m p i n g e f f e c t s
Mandate; which r e s t r i c t s
t h e e x e r c i s e of t a r i f f - m a k i n g
i n t e r e s t s of t h e m a n d a t e d t e r r i t o r y .
i t s pre-war markets.
enterprise,'
of A r t i c l e 18 of
Some s e e P a l e s t i n e ' s f u t u r e
the'
and b a r g a i n i n g power i n
C o n f l i c t i n g v i e w s a r e h e l d on t h e
w h e t h e r ; t h e c i t r u s i n d u s t r y w i l l be able to r e g a i n ,
monetary
the
question
or even p o s s i b l y to expand,
in the establishment
of -the
coastal
7
f r i n g e a s t h e i n d u s t r i a l w o r k s h o p of t h e M i d d l e E a s t ; " s o m e s t r e s s , t h e ; n e e d of
e x p a n s i o n n i c e l y b a l a n c e d b e t w e e n a g r i c u l t u r e and i n d u s t r y ,
23,
.
­
1
- Any f o r e c a s t of P a l e s t i n e s l o n g - t e r m p r o s p e c t s must n e c e s s a r i l y - b e
a g a i n s t t h e b a c k g r o u n d of t h e c o u n t r y ' s ' n a t u r a l - r e s o u r c e s .
l i m i t e d , making P a l e s t i n e p e c u l i a r l y d e p e n d e n t o n . f o r e i g n
and s u p p l i e s
of many f i n i s h e d
goods.
These a r e
Palestine i s
of w a t e r .
an a r i d " c o u n t r y .
viewed''
extremely
t r a d e f o r raw: m a t e r i a l s
E v e n t h e e x p l o i t a t i o n of t h e . n a t u r a l
c o m p r i s e d i n a good s o i l i r r a d i a t e d by l o n g h o u r s of b r i g h t s u n s h i n e ' i s
by the a v a i l a b i l i t y
an
D e s p i t e an abuudant w i n t e r r a i n f a l l
asset
limited
in-many p a r t s ,
I n t h e w o r d s of t h e P a l e s t i n e G o v e r n m e n t ,
"there
are
few c o u n t r i e s nowadays which c a n s a y t h a t t h e i r w a t e r r e s o u r c e s -are. of such, l i t t l e
concern t o t h e i r p e o p l e t h a t l e g i s l a t i o n to c o n t r o l t h e i r use i s u n n e c e s s a r y " ;
t h e Government of t h i s
a r i d c o u n t r y has no s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y t o c o n t r o l
the
e x p l o i t a t i o n of i t s w a t e r r e s o u r c e s , a n d no a u t h o r i t y e v e n t o a s c e r t a i n t h e
of s u c h w a t e r r e s o u r c e s a s
24.
extent
exist.
The Commission on P a l e s t i n e S u r v e y s , a n A m e r i c a n
organisation,
yet
submitted proposals,
Zionist-financed
c o n c e i v e d on b o l d and i m a g i n a t i v e l i n e s ,
and
worked out i n c o n s i d e r a b l e d e t a i l b y A m e r i c a n e n g i n e e r s of t h e h i g h e s t s t a n d i n g ,
/for a . . . . .
CHAFTER IV
f o r a, " J o r d a n V a l l e y A u t h o r i t y " .
-
Pago 10
:
The g e n e r a l d e s i g n . i s t o b r i n g w a t e r , from t h e
s o u r c e s of t h e J o r d a n t o t h e f e r t i l e E s d r a e l o n and c o a s t a l p l a i n ,
t h e l o w e r J o r d a n V a l l e y , and t o - u t i l i s e t h e w a t e r s b o t h of
t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n Sea f o r t h e g e n e r a t i o n of e l e c t r i c p o w e r .
scheme t h a t , . w h e t h e r c a r r i e d t o f u l l
I n t o s t a g e s each s t a n d i n g on i t s
to
irrigate
t h e J o r d a n R i v e r and c
It
is
c l a i m e d f o r tl­
c o m p l e t i o n or adopted i n p a r t - i t i s subdiv
own m e r i t s - i t w o u l d b r i n g a b o u n t i f u l
supply
w a t e r a t an economic c o s t t o l a r g e a r e a s of f e r t i l e , l a n d now y i e l d i n g o n l y one
a year.
Very l a r g e sums of money' would be; r e q u i r e d ,
i n f o r m e d , would b e a v a i l a b l e from e x t e r n a l
25.
Such b o l d
but these,
t h e Committee w­
sources,
long-term planning presupposes w i l l i n g co-operation,
I n t e r e s t e d n e u t r a l i t y , between a l l s e c t i o n s
of t h e p o p u l a t i o n a n d t h e
or a t
Government.
Moreover, i t can have l i t t l e
o r no b e a r i n g on t h e c a p a c i t y of P a l e s t i n e t o
a n - i m m e d i a t e h a v e n of r e f u g e
f o r h o m e l e s s J e w s from E u r o p e .
26,
leas
provide
We have i n t h i s i m m e d i a t e " c o n t e x t a n o t h e r e x a m p l e of t h e - manner i n which
J e w i s h z e a l and e n e r g y a r e r e a d y t o o u t r u n e c o n o m i c c a u t i o n of t h e o r d i n a r y Wester!
pattern.
F u l l r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e weak p o i n t s i n t h e J e w i s h economy .an& i t s
immediate p r o s p e c t s d o e s n o t i n t h e l e a s t d e t e r t h e i n s i s t e n c e - upon p r o v i d i n g a
home f o r t h e h o m e l e s s .
If
t h i s should- e n t a i l a n a l l - r o u n d
l i v i n g of t h e p r e s e n t J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n ,
d e m o n s t r a t i o n of b r o t h e r h o o d c a r r i e d ,
so b e i t .
i f need be,
cut i n standards
T h e r e i s much t o a d m i r e i n
to t h e p o i n t of s a c r i f i c e .
i s c o n c e i v a b l e t h a t t h e p a s s i o n a t e e x p a n s i o n of a n e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e ,
d u b i o u s b a s i s of n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s , m i g h t l e a d t o o v e r - d e v e l o p m e n t
as t o r e n d e r i t
t o p - h e a v y t o t h e p o i n t of c o l l a p s e .
i s a s i n e qua n o n . ­
But
scale
The a r g u m e n t t h u s r e t u r n s
o r d e r l y p r o g r e s s i n a n a t m o s p h e r e of p e a c e f u l
thi
upon a
on s u c h a
t h e need f o r s y s t e m a t i c improvement of t h e c o u n t r y ' s b a s i c r e s o u r c e s ,
as a l r e a d y i n d i c a t e d ,
of
to
for" w h i c h ,
collaboration
CHAPTER
THE
1.
The C o m m i t t e e h e r d
JEWISHATTITUDE
the. J e w i s h e a s e , p r e s e n t e d a t f u l l l e n g t h and. w i t h
8
voluminous w r i t t e n evidence,
by t h e A m e r i c a n Z i o n i s t s ,
V.
i n t h r e e s e r i e s of p u b l i c h e a r i n g s
i n London by the- B r i t i s h Z i o n i s t s ^
m a s s i v e l y by t h e J e w i s h Agency i n J e r u s a l e m ,
t h e same,
the.so-called
in Washington
and f i n a l l y
and m o s t
The b a s i c p o l i c y a d v o c a t e d Was a l w a y s
B i l t m o r e Programme - of 1942, w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n a l demand
that
100,000 c e r t i f i c a t e s ; f o r - i m m i g r a t i o n i n t o P a l e s t i n e s h o u l d be i s s u e d i m m e d i a t e l y
relieve
the d i s t r e s s in Europe,
to
T h i s p o l i c y can be summed up i n t h r e e p o i n t s :
(1)
t h a t t h e Mandatory, s h o u l d hand over c o n t r o l of i m m i g r a t i o n ' " t p t h e J e w i s h Agency;
(2)
that i t
s h o u l d a b o l i s h r e s t r i c t i o n s on t h e s a l e of l a n d ;
and (3)
that i t
should
p r o c l a i m a s i t s u l t i m a ' - " ' aim t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a J e w i s h S t a t e a s soon a s a
Jewish m a j o r i t y has been achieved.
It
s h o u l d be n o t e d t h a t t h e demand f o r a J e w i s h
S t a t e g o e s beyond t h e o b l i g a t i o n s of e i t h e r
the Balfour D e c l a r a t i o n
or t h e M a n d a t e ,
and w a s e x p r e s s l y d i s o w n e d by t h e Chairman of t h e J e w i s h Agency a s l a t e
2,
In a l l the h e a r i n g s ,
as
1932,
a l t h o u g h e v i d e n c e w a s g i v e n "by t h o s e s e c t i o n s of
the
Z i o n i s t movement w h i c h a r e c r i t i c a l of t h e B i l t m o r e - P r o g r a m m e , m o s t of t h e w i t n e s s e s
took t h e o f f i c i a l
Zionism:
first,
a s an a l t e r n a t i v e
o r t h o d o x Jens
Zionist line.
The C o m m i t t e e a l s o h o a r d t h e J e w i s h o p p o n e n t s of
t h e s m a l l g r o u p s i n A m e r i c a a n d B r i t a i n who a d v o c a t e
to Jewish nationalism;
' second, Agudath I s r a e l ,
t e n d e n c i e s of Z i o n i s m ;
and t h i r d ,
representatives
i m p o r t a n t s e c t i o n s of Middle E a s t e r n J e w r y , many- of Whom f e a r
r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e Arabs a r e being endangered by p o l i t i c a l
t
an o r g a n i s a t i o n
of
which, s u p p o r t s u n r e s t r i c t e d J e w i s h i m m i g r a t i o n i n t o P a l e s t i n e w h i l e
o b j e c t i n g to the s e c u l a r
3
assimilation
that their
of
friendly
Zionism.
As t h e r e s u l t of t h e p u b l i c h e a r i n g s and of toany p r i v a t e c o n v e r s a t i o n s , we
came, t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n
t h a t t h e B i l t m o r e programme h a s t h e s u p p o r t of t h e
w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of Z i o n i s t s .
formulating
over­
Though many J e w s h a v e d o u b t s a b o u t t h e wisdom of
t h e s e u l t i m a t e demands,
t h e programme h s s u n d o u b t e d l y , won t h e
support
of t h e Z i o n i s t movement a s a w h o l e , c h i e f l y b e c a u s e i t e x p r e s s e s t h e p o l i c y
P a l e s t i n i a n J e w r y w h i c h now p l a y s a l e a d i n g r o l e i n t h e J e w i s h Agency,
almost u n i v e r s a l - s u p p o r t for
of
Whether
t h e demand f o r a J e w i s h S t a t e i s b a s e d on fuHH
this
knowledge
o f t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s of t h e p o l i c y and of t h e r i s k s i n v o l v e d i n c a r r y i n g i t o u t i s ,
of c o u r s e ,
q u i t e a n o t h e r matter;.
-
­
... ­
/4.
T h e . . . . ­ .,
CHAPTER
4,
The p o s i t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e i t s e l f
i s somewhat d i f f e r e n t .
i s n o t t h e a c h i e v e m e n t of a r e m o t e i d e a ,
depth for the Jewish nation,
2
logs.
V
Here, w h e r e t h e
b u t i s r e g a r d e d a s a m a t t e r of l i f e
the p o s i t i o n
i s n a t u r a l l y , more c o m p l e x .
Jewry i s r i d d l e d w i t h p a r t y d i f f e r e n c e s ,
issue
and
Palestinian
:The number of p o l i t i c a l n e w s p a p e r s and
p e r i o d i c a l s b e a r s w i t n e s s to t h e v a r i e t y and v i t a l i t y
of t h i s p o l i t i c a l l i f e ,
and,
a p a r t from p r e s s u r e e x e r t e d o n ' J e w s c o n s i d e r e d t o be d i s l o y a l t o t h e N a t i o n a l Home,
we found l i t t l e e v i d e n c e to s u p p o r t t h e rumours t h a t i t was d a n g e r o u s t o
minority, views.
Of t h e m a j o r ' p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s , Map a i ' ( t h e L a b o u r P a r t y )
the b i g g e s t and l a r g e l y d e t e r m i n e s t h e o f f i c i a l
a r e two main g r o u p s .
line.
is
far
' Opposed to t h e A g e n c y ' s p o l i c y
On the one s i d e s t a n d two s m a l l b u t i m p o r t a n t p a r t i e s :
C o n s e r v a t i v e A l i y a h ' Ha da shah (New S e t t l e r s ) ,
a s o c i a l i s t p a r t y which,
:
w h i l e demanding t h e r i g h t of u n r e s t r i c t e d
' the
drawn c h i e f l y from c o l o n i s t s of German
and w e s t e r n European e x t r a c t i o n , - and Hashomer H a t z a i r ,
i m m i g r a t i o n - and land-, s e t t l e m e n t ,
the.- c o n c e p t of t h e J e w i s h S t a t e and p a r t i c u l a r l y e m p h a s i s e s t h e n e e d f o r
w i t h the Arabs,
advocate
Hashomer H a t z a i r j t h o u g h i t "did riot appear, b e f o r e u s ,
challenges
co-operation
published'
s h o r t l y b e f o r e 7*?e l e f t J e r u s a l e m a. s t r i k i n g p a m p h l e t in s u p p o r t of b i - n a t i o n a l l s m , '
Very c l o s e t o Hashomer ' H a t z a i r ,
b u t "without i t s
s o c i a l i s t ideology,
Magnes and h i s "small I hud g r o u p , , whose i m p o r t a n c e
Taken a l t o g e t h e r ,
is-far
g r e a t e r t h a n i t s numbers.
t h e s e P a l e s t i n i a n c r i t i c s of t h e B l i t m o r e Programme c e r t a i n l y do ­
n o t e x c e e d a t t h e moment one q u a r t e r of t h e J e w i s h - p o p u l a t i o n
represent a constructive minority.
5.
stands Dr,
But t h e y
/
On t h e o t h e r s i d e s t a n d s R e v i s i o n i s t ' P a r t y ,
the J e w i s h community,
in P a l e s t i n e ,
numbering
some one p e r c e n t ,
of
and beypjacl i t t h e v a r i o u s ' more extreme g r o u p s , w h i c h ' c a l l f o r
a c t i v e r e s i s t a n c e to the W h i t e P a p e r and p a r t i c i p a t e i n and o p e n l y s u p p o r t tile
p r e s e n t t e r r o r i s t campaign.
T h i s wing of P a l e s t i n i a n J e w r y d e r i v e s i t s
­
inspiration
and i t s m e t h o d s from t h e r e v o l u t i o n a r y t r a d i t i o n s of P o l a n d and e a s t e r n E u r o p e .
of t h e s e e x t r e m i s t s a r e boys and g i r l s u n d e r t w e n t y , of good e d u c a t i o n ,
a political
6,,
f a n a t i c i s m as s e l f - s a c r i f i c i n g
of c o n f l i c t i n g p o l i t i c a l - p r e s s u r e s ,
without sacrificing p r i n c i p l e .
studied
against
i t is a result
an a t t e m p t by t h e l e a d e r s h i p t o m a i n t a i n
unity
who l i v e s and w o r k s i n t h e N a t i o n a l Home i s
d e e p l y aware b o t h of h i s a c h i e v e m e n t s a n d , o f
with whole-hearted
it is
Like a l l p o l i t i c a l p l a t f o r m s ,
The J e w
with
as i t i s p e r n i c i o u s ,
The B i l t r a o r e Programme can o n l y be f u l l y u n d e r s t o o d i f
t h i s b a c k g r o u n d of - P a l e s t i n i a n l i f e .
1
filled
Many
how much more c o u l d ' h a v e b e e n
s u p p o r t by t h e M a n d a t o r y P o w e r .
His p o l i t i c a l
achieved
outlook i s
/a mixture,
thus
,
a m i x t u r e of s e l f - o o n f i d e n i p r i d e and " b i t t e r f r u s t r a t i o n :
p r i d e t h a t he h a s
the d e s e r t and t h e swamp i n t o a l a n d f l o w i n g w i t h m i l k and h o n e y ;
because? he i s d e n i e d o p p o r t u n i t y of
s e t t l e m e n t in n i n e - t e n t h s
which he c o n s i d e r s h i s own b y r i g h t ;
frustration
of t h a t E r e t z
t h a t t h e Je?; i s b a r r e d
i s now i n b e i n g ;
jfrustration
pride
t h a t he i s t a k i n g p a r t in a b o l d c o l l e c t i v e
p r i d e b e c a u s e in P a l e s t i n e
l a s t a f r e e member of a f r e e C0T7.-nuni.ty;
7.
frustration
b u t u n d e r an a u t o c r a t i c i f
order to p l a c a t e Arab opposition.-
to t h e l i f e
the Nazi
y e a r s of Arab r e v o l t ,
and t o a c c u s t o m h i m s e l f
The h i g h -barbed -wire and the v / a t c h ­
t o w e r s , manned by t h e s e t t l e m e n t p o l i c e d a y and n i g h t .
1936 and 1938.
of
t h e N a t i o n a l Home i n
himself f o r self-defence,
as he a p p r o a c h e s e v e r y c o l l e c t i v e c o l o n y .
at
the W h i t e P a p e r
The s u d d e n r i s e of i m m i g r a t i o n a f t e r
of a p i o n e e r i n an armed s t o c k a d e .
to l i f e
he f e e l s h i m s e l f
since
I s e i z u r e of p o w e r had a s i t s d i r e c t r e s u l t t h e t h r e e and a h a l f
d u r i n g w h i c h t h e Jew had t o t r a i l
often
humane r e g i m e , .
t h e M a n d a t o r y Power h a s s l o w e d up t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of
attitude
experiment;
b e c a u s e he l i v e s , n o t u n d e r
The main c o m p l a i n t of t h e J e w s of P a l e s t i n e i s t h a t ,
1930,
soil;
b e c a u s e he f e e l s h i m s e l f h a m p e r e d by B r i t i s h o f f i c i a l s whom he
e l e c t e d government,
that
e n t r y t o t h e N a t i o n a l Home, w h e r e t h a t community
r e g a r d s as l e s s a b l e than h i m s e l f ;
a freely
Israel
p r i d e t h a t he h a s d i s p r o v e d t h e t h e o r y
the J e w s c a n n o t b u i l d a h e a l t h y community b a s e d on t h e t i l l i n g of t h e
frustration
turned
strike
t h e eye of t h e
visitor
T h e y a r e an o u t w a r d symbol of t h e new
and p o l i t i c s w h i c h d e v e l o p e d among t h e P a l e s t i n i a n Jews b e t w e e n
As a J e w i s h s e t t l e r
v a n g u a r d of a g r e a t army,
defending
s a i d t o a member of t h e Committee:
the advanced p o s i t i o n s u n t i l
the
"We r e
a
the
reinforcements
a r r i v e f r o m Europe
8.
T h e J e w s in P a l e s t i n e
,Arab r i s i n g ,
o r d e r s of
t h e J e w s in
of 1939,
FANA
t h e N a t i o n a l Home, d e s p i t e
t h e i r l e a d e r s and e x e r c i s e d a r e m a r k a b l e
only i n s e l f - d e f e n c e ;
bitterly
a r e convinced t h a t Arab v i o l e n c e p a i d .
every p r o v o c a t i o n ,
t h a t t h e reward for
s e l f - d i s c i p l i n e , - They s h o t ,
t h i s r e s t r a i n t -was t h e ' C o n f e r e n c e
The M a n d a t o r y P o w e r ,
"ho h a d r e c o u r s e t o v i o l e n c e ,
they argue, y i e l d e d
to f o r c e ,
3d p u t t h e i r f a i t h in t h e M a n d a t o r y ,
of t h e s p i r i t and t h e l e t t e r
but
They s t a t e ­
and t h e W h i t e P a p e r
c u t down
hnmigration
t h o u s a n d s of J e w s i n H i t l e r ' s g a s c h a m b e r s .
received substantial
the
obeyed t h e
t h e y r a r e ^ t o o k r e p r i s a l s on t h e Arab p o p u l a t i o n , .
t h u s c a u s e d t h e d e a t h of
Initiation
Throughout
s
The A r a b s ,
c o n c e s s i o n s , -while t h e J e w s , Who
w e r e c o m p e l l e d ' t o a c c e p t w h a t t h e y r e g a r d as. a
of t h e M a n d a t e , -
. *
­
CHAPTER V
9.
EllElJb
A n - i m m e d i a t e r e s u l t of t h e s u c c e s s of A r a b t e r r o r i s m was t h e b e g i n n i n g of
J e w i s h t e r r o r i s m and, even more s i g n i f i c a n t ,
the d i s c i p l i n e ,
and a. g e n e r a l m i l i t a r i s a t i o n
a c l o s i n g of t h e r a n k s ,
of J e w i s h l i f e
Agency become t h e p o l i t i c a l ' h e a d q u a r t e r s of a c i t i z e n
moment i t m i g h t have t o f i g h t ; f o r
in t h e Mandatory P o w e r ,
10.
t h a t a t any
a s he
believedj
t h e P a l e s t i n i a n Jew b e g a n t o l o s e
eager
faith
but
The p o s i t i o n of t h e m o d e r a t e s who u r g e d
a n d . a r e l i a n c e on B r i t a i n ' s p l e d g e d word w a s p r o g r e s s i v e l y
t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e e x t r e m i s t s ,
progressively
Deprived,
The
The t l a h g e r o u s b e l i e f was s p r e a d t h a t n o t p a t i e n c e
v i o l e n c e was n e e d e d to- a c h i e v e j u s t i c e .
self-restraint
in P a l e s t i n e ,
army w h i c h f e l t
i t s v e r y existence,,
b o t h o f h i s n a t u r a l and of h i s l e g a l r i g h t s ,
a t i g h t e n i n g of
t o borrow a l e a f
undermined;
from t h e A r a b c o p y book, way
strengthened,
Then came t h e w a r .
A p a r t from a s m a l l g r o u p o f - t e r r o r i s t s ? , t h e J e w i s h cemmunit
gave more s o l i d s u p p o r t t h a n t h e P a l e s t i n i a n A r a b s ' to'' t h e ' B r i t i s h w a r - e f f o r t -
But
omen t h e i m m e d i a t e M i d d l e E a s t e r n d a n g e r w a s r e m o v e d ,
the
m o d e r a t e s and t h e e x t r e m i s t s began a g a i n , h e i g h t e n e d
the o l d s t r u g g l e ' b e t w e e n
t o an a l m o s t u n e n d u r a b l e
by t h e news from E u r o p e and by s u c h t r a g e d i e s a s t h e ^Struma i n c i d e n t ,
war,
t e n s of t h o u s a n d s of J e w s l e a r n e d t o f i g h t ,
t h e P a l e s t i n e Home G u a r d .
were a g a i n s t B r i t a i n
Europe,
During
in the f i g h t
i n i m m i n e n t d a n g e r o f d e a t h i n N a z i Germany and N a z i - c o n t r o l l e d
the White Paper
: T h e - J e w s , who''had e x p e c t e d an i m m e d i a t e f u l f i l m e n t
of o u t r a g e when no change of p o l i c y o c c u r r e d .
to Zionism, f e l t
stated in public hearing that,
a f t e r V-E d a y , i t was q u i t e
of P a l e s t i n e w i l l be f u t i l e
c o g n i s a n c e - of t h e p o l i t i c a l
and t h e r e a s o n s f o r i t .
a sense
The J e w i s h
i t to a t t e m p t t o c o - o p e r a t e , w i t h - t h e M a n d a t o r y i n s u p p r e s s i n g i l l e g a l
Any d e c i s i o n on t h e f u t u r e
by a
The b i t t e r n e s s r e a c h e d a new p e a k of
a n d t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e m o d e r a t e s became a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e .
i t i s made h i f u l l
they
inhuman a s p r e v e n t i n g ' t h e - e s c a p e ' t o " ' P a l e s t i n e of men,
Labour G o v e r n m e n t of t h e L a b o u r P a r t y programme w i t h ' r e g a r d
ii.
1
i n ' t h e . s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t t h e W h i t e P a p e r , w h i c h t h e y no-;/ f e l t ' '
s t i l l remained in f o r c e .
Agency f r a n k l y
in
a g a i n s t Fascism:
When t h e war e n d e d and the L a b o u r G o v e r n m e n t came to p o w e r ,
intensity,
the
e i t h e r i n t h e B r i t i s h Army o r
They were w i t h B r i t a i n
was n o t only u n j u s t b u t t o t a l l y
women and c h i l d r e n
tension
tension
futile.-for
aotivooj:,
and-unrealistic
unless­
among t h e J e w s i n P a l e . ' t , . i v .
;
. Both i n , e v i d e n c e given in p u b l i c h e a r i n g s ,
and i n n u m e r o u s
1
p r i v a t e c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h - l e a d i n g - p o l i t i o i a n s and.-with o r d i n a r y c i t i z e n s . , we w o r e
repeatedly
a d v i s e d t h a t t h e , m a i n t e n a n c e by t h e M a n d a t o r y of i t s p r e s e n t p o l i c y
o n l y l e a d t o a s t a t e of war,', i n -which t h e e x t r e m i s t s w o u l d h a v e t h e p a s s i v e
could
support
of a l m o s t t h e w h o l e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n a n d t h e m o d e r a t e s w o u l d b e s w e p t from t h e key.,
p o s i t i o n s which they s t i l l
h o l d . - ,To use.-.the w o r d s of o n e J e w i s h l e a d e r :
"Our
p r e s e n t c r i s i s i n E u r o p e and P a l e s t i n e i s f e l t by a l l of u s t o be o u r Dunkirko
11
C H A P T E R
VI
THE ARAB ATTITUDE
1 .
The c o m m i t t e e h e a r d a b r i e f p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e Arab c o s e i n
jiVashington,
s t a t e m e n t s made i n London b y d e l e g a t e s from t h e / r a b s t a t e s
to
4
the United National
a fuller
s t a t e m e n t from t h e s e c r e t a r y - G e n e r a l and o t h e r
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e Arab L e a g u e i n C a i r o , and e v i d e n c e g i v e n on b e h a l f
o f t h e Arab H i g h e r c o m m i t t e e and t h e Arab o f f i c e i n J e r u s a l e m ,
s u b - c o m m i t t e e s v i s i t e d Baghdad, R i y a d h , Damascus, B e i r u t
in
and Ai-iman, w h e r e
t h e y were i n f o r m e d of t h e v i e w s o f G o v e r n m e n t s and c f u n o f f i c i a l
2.
fact
' Stripped to the bare e s s e n t i a l s ,
addition,
spokesmen.
t h e Arab c a s e i s b a s e d upon t h e
t h a t P a l e s t i n e i s a c o u n t r y w h i c h t h e A r a b s h a v e o c c u p i e d f o r more
than a thousand y e a r s ,
Palestine,
and a d e n i a l of t h e J e w i s h h i s t o r i c a l
in issuing the Balfour Declaration,
claims
the Arabs m a i n t a i n ,
,J3*iti-s;h Government -were g i v i n g away s o m e t h i n g t h a t d i d not b e l o n g
Britain,
to
the
to
and t h e y h a v e c o n s i s t e n t l y a r g u e d t h a t t h e Mandate c o n f l i c t e d
t h e C o v e n a n t of t h e L e a g u e of N a t i o n s from which i t d e r i v e d i t s
authority.
The A r a b s d e n y t h a t t h e p a r t p l a y e d by t h e B r i t i s h i n f r e e i n g them from
T u r k s gave G r e a t B r i t a i n
they assert
a r i g h t t o d i s p o s e of t h e i r c o u n t r y ^ '
t h a t T u r k i s h was p r e f e r a b l e t o B r i t i s h r u l e , i f
with
the
indeed,
the
latter
involves t h e i r eventual subjection to the Jews.
They c o n s i d e r t h e Mandate
a v i o l a t i o n of t h e i r r i g h t of s e l f - d e t e r m i n a t i o n
since i t i s forcing
them on i m m i g r a t i o n w h i c h t h e y do not d e s i r e and w i l l n o t t o l e r a t e -
upon
an
i n v a s i o n of P a l e s t i n e b y t h e J e w s .
^ we h a v e not f e l t i t
necessary t o e n t e r i n t o the h i s t o r i c a l
arguments
b a s e d upon u n d e r t a k i n g s g i v e n by t h e B r i t i s h Government t o t h e
Sharif
H u s s e i n of Mecca and o t h e r s d u r i n g t h e l a s t war and i n t e r p r e t e d by t h e A r a b s
a s p r o m i s i n g among o t h e r t h i n g s t h a t P a l e s t i n e - would become an i n d e p e n d e n t
Arab c o u n t r y .
These u n d e r t a k i n g s ,
Balfour Declaration,
t h e most i m p o r t a n t of w h i c h p r e c e d e d
the
f o r m an e s s e n t i a l p o r t of t h e Arab c a s e and were
examined b y an A n g l o - A r a b Committee i n London i n F e b r u a r y , 1939.
The r e p o r t
of t h i s c o m m i t t e e , c o n t a i n i n g s t a t e m e n t s of b o t h t h e Arab and t h e B r i t i s h
p o i n t of v i e w , i s t o b e f o u n d i n B r i t i s h Command P a p e r No.5974*
The d o c u ­
m e n t s u n d e r e x a m i n a t i o n were p r i n t e d a t t h e some t i m e . i n Command p a p e r s
Nos.. 5957 and 59^4 ( a l l of 1939)
/3.
The A r a b s
*
3.
CHAPTER
VI
-
Page 2
The A r a b s of P a l e s t i n e p o i n t o u t t h a t a l l t h e s u r r o u n d i n g Arab
- h a v e now b e e n g r a n t e d i n d e p e n d e n c e .
They a r g u e t h a t , , t h e y a r e j u s t
a d v a n c e d a s a r e t h e c i t i z e n s of t h e n e a r b y s t a t e s ,
p e n d e n c e f o r P a l e s t i n e now.
t h e name of G r e a t B r i t a i n ,
States
as
and t h e y demand i n d e ­
The p r o m i s e s w h i c h have b e e n made t o them i n
and t h e a s s u r a n c e s c o n c e r n i n g P a l e s t i n e g i v e n t o
Arab l e a d e r s b y p r e s i d e n t s R o o s e v e l t and Truman, have b e e n u n d e r s t o o d b y t h e
A r a b s of P a l e s t i n e a s a r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e p r i n c i p l e
that they should
t h e some r i g h t s a s t h o s e e n j o y e d b y t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s .
A r a b s u n i t e w i t h M o s l e m s i n a l l of t h e s e c o n t e n t i o n s .
enjoy
Christian
They demand t h a t
their
i n d e p e n d e n c e s h o u l d b e r e c o g n i s e d a t o n c e , and t h e y would l i k e P a l e s t i n e ,
.a s e l f - g o v e r n i n g
4.
as
c o u n t r y , t o j o i n t h e Arab L e a g u e .
The A r a b s a t t a c h t h e h i g h e s t
importance t o the fulfilment
of
the
p r o m i s e s made b y t h e B r i t i s h Government ^in t h e w h i t e P a p e r of 1939*
King
Abdul A z i z i b n S a u d , when he spoke w i t h t h r e e members of t h e Committee a t
Riyadh,
ma do f r e q u e n t r e f e r e n c e b o t h t o t h e s e p r o m i s e s and t o
the
a s s u r a n c e s g i v e n him b y t h e l a t e P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e l t a t t h e i r m e e t i n g
February,
1945.
in
H i s M a j e s t y made c l e a r t h e s t r a i n which would b e p l a c e d
upon
Arab f r i e n d s h i p w i t h G r e a t B r i t a i n and t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y any p o l i c y which
A r a b s r e g a r d e d a s a b e t r a y a l of. t h e s e p l e d g e s .
The same w a r n i n g was r e p e a t e d
b y a n Arab w i t n e s s i n J e r u s a l e m , who s a i d t h a t " Z i o n i s m f o r
become a t e s t
5*
the A r a b s
has
of W e s t e r n i n t e n t i o n s " .
The s u g g e s t i o n t h a t s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t
s h o u l d b e w i t h h e l d from P a l e s t i n e
u n t i l t h e J e w s have a c q u i r e d .a m a j o r i t y seems ' o u t r a g e o u s t o t h e A r a b s .
w i s h t o b e m a s t e r s i n t h e i r own h o u s e .
They
The A r a b s were opposed t o t h e i d e a of
a J e w i s h N a t i o n a l Home e v e n b e f o r e t h e B i l t m o r e Programme and t h e demand
a Jewish State,
Needless to say,
however, t h e i r
for
o p p o s i t i o n h a s become more
i n t e n s e and more b i t t e r s i n c e t h a t programme was a d o p t e d .
6.
The A r a b s m a i n t a i n t h a t t h e y have n e v e r b e e n a n t i - S e m i t i c ;
-are Semites t h e m s e l v e s .
indeed,
they
Arab spokesmen p r o f e s s t h e ' g r e a t e s t s y m p a t h y f o r
p e r s e c u t e d J e w s of E u r o p e , b u t t h e y p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e y have n o t b e e n r e s ­
p o n s i b l e f o r t h i s p e r s e c u t i o n and t h a t
compelled t o atone f o r
it
i s not j u s t t h a t
they should be
t h e s i n s of W e s t e r n p e o p l e s b y a c c e p t i n g i n t o
c o u n t r y h u n d r e d s of t h o u s a n d s of v i c t i m s of E u r o p e a n a n t i - S e m i t i s m .
their
Some .
/Arabs
the
CHAPTER
VI
g
-
P -g
e
3
Arob-s e w n a e c l o r e t h a t t h e y m i g h t b e w i l l i n g t o do t h e i r
for
shore in p r o v i d i n g
r e f u g e e s on a q u o t a b a s i s i f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , , t h e B r i t i s h Commonwealth
and o t h e r "western c o u n t r i e s would do t h e
7.
some.
The P e e l Commission t o o k t h e v i e w t h a t t h e e n t e r p r i s e of t h e J e w s
a g r i c u l t u r e and i n d u s t r y had b r o u g h t l a r g e ,
if
indirect] benefits to
Arabs i n r a i s i n g t h e i r s t a n d a r d of- l i v i n g .
Though a v e r y l a r g e p a r t of
1.1i
in
the
the
J e w i s h p u r c h a s e s of l a n d h a s b e e n made from a b s e n t e e l a n d l o r d s , many of t h e m
living outside P a l e s t i n e ,
it
i s p r o b a b l e t h a t many Arab f a r m e r s who have
sold
p a r t of t h e i r l a n d t o t h e J e w s have b e e n a b l e t o make u s e of t h e money t o
improve t h e c u l t i v a t i o n of t h e i r r e m a i n i n g h o l d i n g s .
The improvement
h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s i n many p a r t s of t h e c o u n t r y , w h i l e due i n p a r t t o
a c t i v i t i e s of Government and. i n p a r t t o t h e e f f o r t s
s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g
is
also
benefits
On t h e
other
s u c h improvement a s t h e r e may have b e e n i n t h e i r
is attributable solely to their
own e f f o r t s ,
a. m e a s u r e of a i d a t some p o i n t s from t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,
least
It
substantial indirect
on the Arabs t h r o u g h i t s c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e p u b l i c r e v e n u e .
hand, t h e Arabs contend t h a t
the
of t h e A r a b s t h e m s e l v e s ^
h a s u n d o u b t e d l y b e e n a s s i s t e d b y t h e work of t h e J e w i s h s e t t l e r s .
a r g u e d t h a t t h e J e w i s h p o p u l a t i o n ho.s c o n f e r r e d
of
perhaps with
They a s s e r t t h a t
at
e q u a l i m p r o v e m e n t s h a v e o c c u r r e d i n o t h e r Arab c o u n t r i e s , and t h a t
the
a c t i o n t a k e n b y t h e Government . t o a s s i s t J e w i s h i n d u s t r y and a g r i c u l t u r e
has
r e a c t e d u n f a v o u r a b l y on the A r a b s .
Jewish i n d u s t r i e s ; for
Import d u t i e s f o r
t h e p r o t e c t i o n of
e x a m p l e , a r e s a i d t o h a t e c o n f r o n t e d Arab
consumers
w i t h t h e n e c e s s i t y of b u y i n g h i g h - p r i c e d l o c a l p r o d u c t s i n p l a c e of
imported goods.
I n any e v e n t t h e A r a b s d e c l a r e t h a t ,
between, f r e e d o m and m a t e r i a l i m p r o v e m e n t , t h e y p r e f e r
8.
I n e x a s p e r a t i o n a t t h e d i s r e g a r d of t h e i r
gration,
if
they must
choose
freedom,
objection t o Jewish
t h e A r a b s of P a l e s t i n e have r e p e a t e d l y r i s e n i n r e v o l t .
number of them s t i l l
cheaper
A substantial
d e c l a r e t h e i r a l l e g i a n c e t o t h e e x i l e d M u f t i of
and. a r e s a t i s f i e d w i t h h i s p o l i c i e s .
Jerusalem
I n t h e s e c o n d w o r l d w a r , P a l e s t i n i a n Arab
were o n . t h e whole s p i r i t u a l l y n e u t r a l .
h i s e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e Committee;
immi­
As J a m a l E f f e n d i e l - H u s s e i n i s t a t e d
"The Grand M u f t i i n G-ermany was w o r k i n g fd]
t h e i n t e r e s t s n o t of t h e E n g l i s h who were w a r r i n g w i t h t h e G e r m a n s , b u t f o r
i n t e r e s t s of h i s p e o p l e who had n o d i r e c t i n t e r e s t ,
They f e l t
that
in
at l e a s t , i n the
i t was n o t t h e i r war and t h a t t h e M u f t i was r i g h t
s t e p s a s he c o u l d t o do t h e b e s t f o r P a l e s t i n e whoever m i g h t b e
/?.
the
controversy
i n t a k i n g such
victorious.
The W h i t e Paper
CHAPTER VI
9.
-
Page k
T h e W h i t e P a p e r of 1939, and t h e d r a s t i c l i m i t a t i o n of J e w i s h imrni­
g r a t i o n arid of l a n d s a l e s t o J e w s w h i c h f o l l o w e d , met t h e An ah view o n l y I n
port.
The A r a b s would have gone much f u r t h e r .
leaders
The demands v o i c e d b y t h e i r
a r e f o r immediate independence;, f o r t h e f i n a l
c e s s a t i o n of J e w i s h
i m m i g r a t i o n and f o r t h e p r o h i b i t i o n of a l l l a n d s a l e s b y A r a b s - t o J e w s .
So b a r e a n o u t l i n e give." o n l y a n a d e q u a t e p i c t u r e
10.
of t h e p a s s i o n , w i t h
w h i c h A r a b s i n P o - l e c t i n s and i n n e i g h b o u r i n g c o u n t r i e s r e s e n t
t h e i n v a s i o n of
P a l e s t i n e b y a p e o p l e w h i c h , t h o u g h o r i g i n a l l y S e m i t i c , now r e p r e s e n t s a n
alien civilisation.
Even t h e Moslems of I n d i a have made r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s
to
t h e Committee i n o p p o s i t i o n t o Zionisms
One w i t n e s s e s i n P a l e s t i n e n o t m e r e l y t h e i m p a c t of E u r o p e a n
upon t h e E a s t , b u t a l s o t h e impact
upon a s e m i - f e u d a l c i v i l i s a t i o n .
b i t t e r l y resented
of W e s t e r n s c i e n c e and W e s t e r n t e c h n o l o g y
I t i s not s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t h e Arabs have
t h i s i n v a s i o n and have r e s i s t e d
Arab c i v i l i s a t i o n of P a l e s t i n e
i t by f o r c e of a r m s .
i s b a s e d on t h e c l a n ;
s m a l l g r o u p of i i v r i u e n t l a l f &iflil3.es,
an a n t i q u a t e d
and i t i s a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e f o r t h e s o n
far
is traditional,
s y s t e m of l a n d t e n u r e -
and improvement
influence.
i s hampered b y
T h e Arab a d h e r e s t o a s t r i c t
social
code
removed from t h e c u s t o m s of t h e m o d e r n v r o r l d , and he i s s h o c k e d by i n n o v a ­
t i o n s of d r e s s smd
grant.
maia.:erK
-v/..iaU seem c o m p l e t e l y n a t u r a l t o t h e J e w i s h
:
T h u s , t h e s i g h t of a J e w i s h woman I n s h o r t s o f f e n d s t h e Arab
of p r o p r i e t y .
irnrni­
concept
The freedom of r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e s e x e s , a n d t h e n e g l e c t of
good f o r m a s he c o n c e i v e s i t v i o l a t e t h e e n t i r e code of l i f e
Arab i s b r o u g h t u p
11
The
leadership resides in a
of a n Arab f e l l a h t o r i s e t o a p o s i t i o n of w e a l t h a n d p o l i t i c a l
Arab a g r i c u l t u r e .in P a l e s t i n e
culture
i n which t h e
0
. T h e A r a b s of P a l e s t i n e a r e overwhelmed b y a v a g u e s e n s e of t h e power of
-Western c a p i t a l r e p r e s e n t e d by the Jewish p o p u l a t i o n .
The i n f l u x of W e s t e r n
c a p i t a l and t h e p u r c h a s e of modern e q u i p m e n t f o r a g r i c u l t u r e
e x c i t e i n t h e m i n d s of t h e A r a b s a s e n s e of i n f e r i o r i t y
and i n d u s t r y
and t h e f e e l i n g
t h e y o r e c o n t e n d i n g a g a i n s t a n imponderable f o r c e which i s d i f f i c u l t
This f e e l i n g
i s a c c e n t u a t e d by t h e f a c t
that
to resist.
t h a t t h e y r e a l i s e t h a t t h e J e w i s h cose
i s w e l l u n d e r s t o o d and w e l l p o r t r a y e d i n W a s h i n g t o n and L o n d o n , and t h a t
they
have no means c o m p a r a b l e i n e f f e c t i v e n e s s
-.
controversy t o the Western world.
of s t a t i n g t h e i r
s i d e of - t h e
They have p a r t i c u l a r l y r e s e n t e d t h e r e s o ­
l u t i o n s i n favour' of Z i o n i s t a s p i r a t i o n s ,
a d o p t e d r e s p e c t i v e l y by t h e U n i t e d
/ S t a t e s . Congress
CHAPTER
VI
-
Page 5
S t a t e s C o n g r e s s and b y t h e B r i t i s h . Labour P a r t y .
A l t h o u g h t h e Arab S t a t e s Ifti
h a v e d i p l o m a t i c r e p r e s e n t a t i o n and f i v e of them a r e members of t h e U n i t e d
N a t i o n s , t h e A r a b s of P a l e s t i n e f e e l n e v e r t h e l e s s t h a t t h e y h a v e n o t
i n making t h e i r
ease heard.
The W e s t e r n c o u n t r i e s h a v e many J e w i s h b u t
Arab c i t i z e n s , ' and A r a b s a r e l e s s f a m i l i a r w i t h m o d e r n m e t h o d s o f
They f e e l
succeeded
t h a t t h e i r c a s e i s b e i n g j u d g e d and t h e i r f a t e
propaganda^
is being decided by
m y s t e r i o u s f o r c e s i n t h e T / e s t e r n w o r l d , w h i c h t h e y do n o t u n d e r s t a n d
which do not u n d e r s t a n d
12i
and
therru
The p e r i o d s i n c e t h e f i r s t
wOrld war h a s b e e n m a r k e d b y a r i s i n g wave
of n a t i o n a l i s m i n a l l Arab c o u n t r i e s .
and t h e y a r e
few
P a l e s t i n i a n Arabs share t h i s
s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t e d i n t h e i r demand f o r
government b y a l l t h e S t a t e s of t h e Arab L e a g u e ,
sentiment.,
self­
i n d e p e n d e n c e and
No o t h e r sufcject
has
o c c u p i e d s o rnuoh of t h e a t t e n t i o n of t h e Arab L e a g u e o r h a s . done s o much
u n i t e i t s membership
13.
a
s
n
a
s
t h e q u e s t i o n of
Palestine.
T h o s e members of t h e Committee who t r a v e l l e d
i n t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g Arab
c o u n t r i e s found
t h a t h o s t i l i t y t o Z i o n i s m was a s s t r o n g and w i d e s p r e a d
as i n P a l e s t i n e
itself.
of a l e t t e r
that
"all
countries . . . . .
w i l l u n i t e a g a i n s t any danger t h a t t h e Arabs
have t o m e e t " .
M o r e o v e r t h e G-overrments .and p e o p l e s of t h e
them and would
a Zionist state
impede t h e i r
d e l e g a t e of S y r i a a t
efforts
expressed the further
"Palestine
fear
are interested,
neighbouring
threat
t o w a r d s a c l o s e r Arab u n i o n .
a Zionist
The same
i n the f u t u r e ,
into
p u r s u e an a n t i - A r a b
'
the
splitting
witness
S t a t e would
and would t e n d t o e n t e r
to
The c h i e f
i n a l i e n h a n d s w o u l d b e a wedge
of t h e A r a b s t h a t
and a g g r e s s i v e ,
w i t h any Power which m i g h t ,
"The M i d d l e E a s t , "
? P a l e s t i n e may
i n P a l e s t i n e would b e a d i r e c t
t h e Arab w o r l d a t a most v i t a l and s e n s i t i v e p o i n t " .
become e x p a n s i o n i s t
0
t h e Arab
t h e G-eneral A s s e m b l y of t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s t o l d
C o m m i t t e e i n London t h a t
there
They r e c e i v e d from H.R.H. t h e R e g e n t of I r a q a copy
i n w h i c h he had t o l d P r e s i d e n t R o o s e v e l t
States believe that
to
inevitably
alliance
policy.
he w r o t e , " i s a v i t a l r e g i o n i n w h i c h a l l t h e G r e a t P o w e r s
A Zionist State
s u p p o r t of f o r e i g n P o w e r s .
in Palestine
could only e x i s t with
T h i s would n o t o n l y mean a s t a t e of
tension
b e t w e e n t h o s e f o r e i g n P o w e r s and t h e Arab S t a t e s , b u t a l s o t h e g r a v e
b t l i t y of d a n g e r o u s a l i g n m e n t s and m a n o e u v r e s w h i c h m i g h t
f r i c t i o n at the highest
l e v e l and p o s s i b l y
disaster."
end i n
the
possi­
international
C H A P T E R
V11
CHRISTIAN INTERESTS IN PALESTINE . ­
1.
'
in addition to the-witnesses concerned.exclusively
with
p o l i t i c a l i s s u e s , t h e c o m m i t t e e a l s o h e a r d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s , of
churches.
Christian
The Arab C h r i s t i a n s , d i v i d e d ' among many d e n o m i n a t i o n s ' ,
n u m b e r i n g some 1 2 5 , 0 0 0 , form t h e o v e r w h e l m i n g m a j o r i t y of
actually l i v i n g in P a l e s t i n e .
Their delegation,
and
Christians
led. b y t h e Greek
C a t h o l i c Archbishop of G a l i l e e , d e c l a r e d t h e i r complete s o l i d a r i t y
t h e Moslem A r a b s i n t h e demand f o r an i n d e p e n d e n t Arab s t a t e .
with
The non-
P a l e s t i n i a n C h r i s t i a n g r o u p s w e r e u n a b l e t o s p e a k w i t h a common v o i c e ,
indeed,
C h r i s t i a n s h a v e so c o m p l e t e l y f a i l e d t o a c h i e v e u n i t y ,
o r even
h a r m o n y , i n t h e p r a c t i c a l t a s k s of a d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e C h r i s t i a n H o l y
p l a c e s a n d c a r i n g f o r t h e . p i l g r i m s , who v i s i t them t h a t t h e k e y s of
Holy sepulchre
there i s
are s t i l l
e n t r u s t e d t o Moslems.
the
The l a m e n t a b l e f a c t
no s i n g l e spokesman i n P a l e s t i n e f o r C h r i s t e n d o m t e n d s
that
to
o b s c u r e t h e l e g i t i m a t e C h r i s t i a n i n t e r e s t i n t h e H o l y Land.; w h i c h m u s t
b e s a f e g u a r d e d " i n a n y s o l u t i o n of t h e n a t i o n a l p r o b l e m .
This
interest
demands not o n l y f r e e d o m of a c c e s s t o . t h e H o l y p l a c e s , b u t a l s o
that
t r a n q u i l l i t y s h o u l d b e a c h i e v e d i n a c o u n t r y a l l of w h i c h , from t h e C h r i s t i a n p o i n t of view, i s a H o l y L a n d . 2o
-
The s i g n i f i c a n c e
of P a l e s t i n e
since p r e h i s t o r i c times in
d e v e l o p m e n t o f c i v i l i s a t i o n c a n n o t be o v e r e s t i m a t e d .
I n t e r e s t s of a r c h a e o l o g y and h i s t o r y be f o r g o t t e n .
Nor should the
The m a i n t e n a n c e o f
c o n d i t i o n s u n d e r w h i c h s u c h s t u d i e s c a n be p u r s u e d i s a g e n u i n e
of c i v i l i s a t i o n .
Moreover,
the an i n c r e a s e d p i l g r i m and t o u r i s t
concern
traffic
y/ould c o n s t i t u t e an i n v i s i b l e e x p o r t of s u b s t a n t i a l v a l u e t o a c o u n t r y
w i t h so l a r g e an a d v e r s e b a l a n c e , o f t r a d e ; and t h e c o n t a c t i n
b e t w e e n t h e s e t r a v e l l e r s from t h e w e s t e r n w o r l d and t h e
Palestine
representatives
o f t i l e J e w i s h and Moslem f a i t h s w o u l d b e of g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e t o
national
3.
inter­
understanding.
The e x t e n t t o w h i c h t h e H o l y p l a c e s ,
Moslems and J e w s , a r e i n t e r s p e r s e d i s o f t e n
sacred to
Christians,
not f u l l y a p p r e c i a t e d .
i m p o s s i b l e t o s e g r e g a t e the Holy p l a c e s s a c r e d t o t h e t h r e e g r e a t
i n t o separate geographical units.
It
religion
T h e y a r e s c a t t e r e d o v e r t h e whole of
/Palestine
is
CHAPTER V l 1 Palestine,
and n o t ,
Pago 2.
as i s . often-.imagined,
c o n f i n e d t o t h e J e r u s a l e m and
Nazareth areas.
4.
,
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of t h e C h r i s t i a n w o r l d t o w a r d P a l e s t i n e was
w e l l e x p r e s s e d b y G-eneral A l i
e n D V
l
n
t h e p r o c l a m a t i o n w h i c h he made on
t h e o c c a s i o n of t h e o c c u p a t i o n of J e r u s a l e m on t h e 1 1 t h D e c e m b e r , 1 9 1 7 :
"Furthermore,
since your city i s regarded with
affection
b y t h e a d h e r e n t s of t h r e e of t h e g r e a t r e l i g i o n s of
and i t s
mankind,
s o i l h a s b e e n c o n s e c r a t e d by t h e p r a y e r s and p i l ­
g r i m a g e s of m u l t i t u d e s of d e v o u t p e o p l e of t h e s e
r e l i g i o n s f o r many c e n t u r i e s ,
three
t h e r e f o r e do I moke known t o
you t h a t e v e r y s a c r e d b u i l d i n g , monument, h o l y s p o t ,
traditional
s i t e , endowment, p i o u s b e q u e s t ,
or
p l a c e o f p r a y e r of w h a t s o e v e r form of t h e t h r e e
shrine,
customary
religions,
w i l l be m a i n t a i n e d and p r o t e c t e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e
- c u s t o m s and b e l i e f s o f t h o s e t o whose f a i t h s t h e y
existing
are
sacred."
5*
The r e l i g i o u s i m p o r t a n c e o f P a l e s t i n e t o M o s l e m s , J e w s and
C h r i s t i a n s a l i k e m a k e s i t i m p r o p e r t o t r e a t i t e i t h e r a s an A r a b S t a t e
or as e x c l u s i v e l y d e s i g n a t e d to the f u l f i l m e n t
aspirations.
of J e w i s h . n a t i o n a l
A s o l u t i o n of t h e P a l e s t i n e p r o b l e m must n o t o n l y h e a l
p o l i t i c a l r i v a l r i e s o f Jew and A r a b , b u t must a l s o s a f e g u a r d i t s
religious
values.
unique
1.
The J e w s have d e v e l o p e d ,
u n d e r t h e a e g i s of t h e J e w i s h Agency and
Vaad Leurai, a s t r o n g and t i g h t l y - w o v e n community.
There t h u s e x i s t s a
v i r t u a l J e w i s h n o n - t e r r i t o r i a l S t a t e w i t h i t s own e x e c u t i v e and
organs,
legislative
p a r a l l e l i n many r e s p e c t s t o t h e M a n d a t o r y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ^
a s t h e c o n c r e t e symbol of t h e J e w i s h N a t i o n a l Home,
and s e r v i n g
This Jewish
shadow
Government h a s c e a s e d t o c o - o p e r a t e w i t h t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n t h e
of l a w a n d o r d e r ,
2,
and i n t h e s u p p r e s s i o n of
p e r i o d of one y e a r ' s
gangs,
which
t h e r e a r e many s i g n s t h a t f a n a t i c i s m and
n a t i o n a l i s t propaganda a r e b e g i n n i n g to a f f e c t
educational system.
maintenance
terrorism,
Q u i t e a p a r t from t h e i n c r e a s i n g s t r e n g t h of t h e t e r r o r i s t
enjoy widespread popular support.,
the
d e t r i m e n t a l l y the Jewish
I t a p p e a r s t o us w h o l l y h a r m f u l t h a t t h e
"national service",
obligatory
i n s t i t u t e d "by t h e J e w i s h Agency a n d t h e
Vaad Leumi, i s how p a r t l y used f o r m i l i t a r y t r a i n i n g ; ,
The " c l o s i n g of t h e r a n k s " ,
m o r e o v e r , w h i c h we n o t e d above,- has i n c r e a s e d t h e t o t a l i t a r i a n t e n d e n c i e s
which a n a t i o n a l i s t
s o c i e t y i s always liable.-
be a g r o s s e x a g g e r a t i o n .
to
To s p e a k of a J e w i s h t e r r o r would
But t h e r e a r e d i s q u i e t i n g i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t
illegal
o r g a n i s a t i o n s and t h e a t m o s p h e r e of c o n s p i r a c y , w h i c h i n e v i t a b l y a c c o m p a n i e s
are having t h e i r corroding e f f e c t s
on t h a t f r e e
t h e p r i d e of t h e P a l e s t i n i a n J e w s .
it,
democracy which has always b e e n
E v e r y t h o u g h t f u l Jew w i t h whom we t a l k e d
was p r o f o u n d l y d i s t u r b e d b y t h e s e symptoms.
B u t n o n e was b o l d enough t o
prophesy
t h a t t h e y would d i s a p p e a r so l o n g a s t h e P a l e s t i n e A d m i n s t r a t i o n c a r r i e d o u t a
p o l i c y w h i c h seems t o e v e r y J e w t o b e i n d i r e c t
contravention
of h i s n a t u r a l
rights
Jewish Relations with Arabs.
3.
Not o n l y i s t h e J e w i s h community l a r g e l y i n d e p e n d e n t of and a t odds w i t h
t h e P a l e s t i n e Government, b u t i t i s a l s o q u i t e d i s t i n c t
t h e A r a b community w i t h w h i c h ,
i n many a r e a s ,
In part this is a natural result
of t h e J e w i s h community.
it
from and i n c o n f l i c t
is territorially
intertwined.
of Z i o n i s t c o n c e n t r a t i o n upon t h e
I f t h e A r a b s have b e n e f i t e d ,
comparison w i t h t h e n o n - P a l e s t i n i a n Arabs;
development
t h e y h a v e done so o n l y i n
whereas t h e y have remained f a r
t h e P a l e s t i a n i a n J e w s i n t e r m s of n a t i o n a l income,, s o c i a l s e r v i c e s ,
and g e n e r a l s t a n d a r d of l i v i n g .
with
beneath
education
T h i s h a s made i t e a s i e r f o r t h e A r a b p o l i t i c a l
/leaders
" l e a d e r s t o k e e p a l i v e a n t i - J e w i s h f e e l i n g i n t h e minds of t h e Arab masses".
economic g u l f
least,
s e p a r a t i n g J e w and Arab i n P a l e s t i n e h a s b e e n w i d e n e d ,
by J e w i s h p o l i c i e s c o n c e r n i n g t h e non-employment
p u r c h a s e d b y t h e . J e w i s h N a t i o n a l Fund a n d t h e r e f u s a l
e n e r g i e s - d i r e c t l y t o t h e improvement
ab^-&
in part
of A r a b l a b o u r
at
on.land
t o devote J e w i s h funds
of A r a b s t a n d a r d s of l i v i n g .
and
E f f o r t s by t h e
Jews i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n m i g h t b e q u i t e a s i m p o r t a n t f o r t h e g r o w t h and s e c u r i t y of
t h e ' N a t i o n a l Home a s t h e d r a i n i n g of swamp l a n d s or t h e c r e a t i o n of J e w i s h
4.
B u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e r e a r e s i g n s of a h a r d e n i n g of t h e J e w i s h
towards t h e Arabs.
attitude
Too o f t e n t h e J e w i s c o n t e n t t o r e f e r t o t h e i n d i r d c t
a c c r u i n g t o t h e A r a b s , from h i s coming, and t o l e a v e t h e m a t t e r t h e r e .
loving every foot
of E r e t z I s r a e l ,
i s s u e from t h e Arab p o i n t
his "invasion"
he f i n d s
and f o r g e t s t h e enormous f i n a n c i a l ,
upon him by w o r l d Z i o n i s m .
exists.
of e v e r y d a y l i f e
I n so d o i n g ,
stating that i t
It
a l w a y s t o t h e d i s a d v a n t a g e of t h e
out the
latter;
indubitably
he s o m e t i m e s i g n o r e s t h e d e e p p o l i t i c a l a n t a g o n i s m w h i c h
i s the "result
o r t h i n k s t h a t he h a s e x p l a i n e d i t away by
of s e l f - s e e k i n g p r o p a g a n d a b y t h e r i c h e f f e n d i
i s . n o t u n f a i r t o s a y t h a t t h e J e w i s h community i n P a l e s t i n e
significant
slow
superficial
i n town and v i l l a g e - a f r i e n d l i n e s s w h i c h
a s a community, f a c e d t h e p r o b l e m of c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e A r a b s .
instance,
the
e d u c a t i o n a l and t e c h n i c a l a d v a n t a g e s b e s t o w e d
When c h a l l e n g e d on b i s
he i s t o o o f t e n c o n t e n t t o p o i n t
i n s p i r e s t h e w h o l e A r a b community;
5.
i t almost impossible to look at
of v i e w , and t o r e a l i s e t h e d e p t h of f e e l i n g a r o u s e d b y
i m p r o v e m e n t s made b y t h e Arab v i l l a g e ,
friendliness
benefits
Passionately
of P a l e s t i n e . .. He c o m p a r e s h i s own a c h i e v e m e n t s w i t h t h e
r e l a t i o n s with the Arabs,
industry.
that,
class".
has n e v e r , ­
I t is, for ­
i n the Jewish Agency's proposal f o r a Jewish S t a t e ,
p r o b l e m of h a n d l i n g a m i l l i o n and a q u a r t e r
the
A r a b s i s d e a l t W i t h i n t h e v a g u e s t Df
generalities.
6.
We n o t e d ,
however, a few hopeful s i g n s .
R e f e r e n c e ' w a s made above t o
the p r o p o s a l s f o r c o - o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e A r a b s made b y Hashomer H a t z a i r and b y t h e
group.-
The Committee o b s e r v e d w i t h p l e a s u r e t h e A r a b - J e w i s h c o - o p e r a t i o n
on t h e M u n i c i p a l Commission w h i c h g o v e r n s H a i f a ,
Marketing B o a r d s , as w e l l as t h e j o i n t
achieved and i n t h e C i t r u s C o n t r o l and t r a d e u n i o n a c t i v i t y b e t w e e n Jew' and A r a b i n t h e P a l e s t i n e P o t a s h Company a n d on t h e r a i l w a y s . '
o p e r a t i o n a r e r a r e in- P a l e s t i n e ;
Ihud and t h e y a r e f a r
B u t s u c h e x a m p l e s of
co­
outweighed i n Arab eyes by t h e e x c l u s i v e n e s s of t h e G e n e r a l F e d e r a t i o n of J e w i s h L a b o u r i n . i t s
t r a d e union p o l i c y and of t h e J e w i s h Agency i n - i t s l a b o u r p o l i c y on l a n d p u r c h a s e d f o r J e w i s h s e t t l e m e n t .
The J e w s a n d
GHAFTJ5R VTII -
PAGE 3 Tbe J r o a n d t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n .
7.
r
Y,e were p r o f o u n d l y i m p r e s s e d b y t h e v e r y v a r i e d e x p e r i m e n t s i n l a n d
w h i c h we i n s p e c t e d , . r a n g i n g from i n d i v i d u a l i s t
communities.
Here, indeed,
e n d e a v o u r , which j u s t i f i e s
co-operatives to pure
settlement
collectivist
i s a m i r a c l e b o t h of p h y s i c a l a c h i e v e m e n t a n d of
t h e dreams of t h o s e J e w s and G e n t i l e s who f i r s t
t b e i d e a of t h e N a t i o n a l Home.
t o speak with confidence.
spirits
conceive
Of J e w i s h i n d u s t r y i n P a l e s t i n e i t i s t o o e a r l y yet
T h e r e i s b o u n d l e s s - o p t i m i s m and e n e r g y ,
great
administrat
c a p a c i t y , b u t a s h o r t a g e of s k i l l e d l a b o u r a n d , a s a r e s u l t , more q u a n t i t y t h a n .
q u a l i t y of
' 8.
output.
As p i o n e e r s i n P a l e s t i n e t h e J e w s have a r e c o r d of w h i c h t h e y c a n b e p r o u d .
I n P a l e s t i n e t h e r e h a s been, no e x p u l s i o n of t h e i n d i g e n o u s p o p u l a t i o n ,
and exploitati
of cheap A r a b l a b o u r h a s b e e n v i g o r o u s l y o p p o s e d a s i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h Z i o n i s m .
f a i l i n g of P a l e s t i n i a n J e w r y i s a d i f f e r e n t
one.
' The J e w s have a l w a y s b e e n i n the
b i b l i c a l p h r a s e a " p e c u l i a r p e o p l e " w h i c h t u r n e d i n on i t s e l f
quences of i t s p e c u l i a r i t y .
In Palestine,
Mandate, t h e y have r e g a i n e d t h e i r n a t i o n a l s e l f - c o n f i d e n c e ,
9.
Y/e b e l i e v e t h a t
this' failure
and s u f f e r e d
under t h e s p e c i a l c o n d i t i o n s
to throw off t h e i r e x c l u s i v e n e s s and t e n d e n c y to
The
t h e conss­
of"the
b u t t h e y have n o t b e e n ab
self-isolation.
is, in part at least,
a t t r i b u t a b l e to the relatie
b e t w e e n t h e P a l e s t i n e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n and t h e J e w i s h community s i n c e 1939, w h i c h bav3
undoubtedly exaggerated t h e n a t u r a l
t h e Jews f e e l
Jewish tendency t o exclusivoness.
Moreover,
t h a t t h e y have enough t o do d e f e n d i n g t h e i r own p o s i t i o n ,
without
t a k i n g on t h e Arab p r o b l e m a s w e l l .
10.
1 second f a c t o r
institutions.
of g r e a t i m p o r t a n c e I s t h e f a i l u r e to d e v e l o p
Tbe J e w s ,
l i k e t h e A r a b s , a r e c o m p l e t e l y d e p r i v e d of a l l r e s p o n s i b l e
p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n c e n t r a l government.'
T h e i r democracy c a n o n l y work w i t h i n t h e
J e w i s h community, a n d t o a l i m i t e d d e g r e e i n l o c a l a f f a i r s .
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y which s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t b r i n g s ,
f o r t h e good of t h e w h o l e S t a t e .
may i n p a r t
self-governing
explain the fact
t o l e a r n t h e l e s s o n of
responsibility
They have b e e n d r i v e n b a c k on t h e m s e l v e s .
that at least
P a l e s t i n e during t h e l a s t ten years
T h u s , t h e y have n o t hfj
one-third
have f a i l e d
of t h e J e w s who h a v e s e t t l e d I
to apply for P a l e s t i n i a n
B u t n o t h i n g w h i c h we saw i n P a l e s t i n e gave Us a n y r e a s o n t o b e l i e v e t h a t ,
w i t h t h e d e m o c r a t i c r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s f o r which t h e y a r e undoubtedly f i t ,
.
.
'
'
of P a l e s t i n e w o u l d n o t m a s t e r t h e l e s s o n s of
'
This
citisensbi
charged
t h e Jews
'
self-government.
Arab Leadershi
CHAPTER V I I I
PAGE it-
Arab L o a d e r s h i p .
11.
"
The A r a b s a r e d i v i d e d p o l i t i c a l l y by t h e p e r s o n a l b i c k e r i n g s of t h e
which s t i l l
c e n t r e r o u n d -the d i f f e r e n c e s
of t h e H u s s e i n i s and t h e i r r i v a l s ;
1B
9
leaders,
and
s o c i a l l y b y t h e gap w h i c h s e p a r a t e s . t h e s m a l l u p p e r c l a s s f r o m t h e mass of t h e p e a s a n t s
a gap w h i c h t h e new i n t e l l i g e n t s i a
i s n o t y e t s t r o n g enough t o b r i d g e . .
ibey have d e v e l o p e d no s u c h i n t e r n a l democracy a s have t h e J e w s .
Consequently
That t h e i r
divisions
have n o t b e e n overcome and a f o r m a l l y o r g a n i s e d community d e v e l o p e d i s i n p a r t
I result
It is,
the
of a l e s s a c u t e l y s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n a t i o n a l i s m t h a n i s found t o - d a y among t h e J e w s .
however, a l s o t h e outcome of a f a i l u r e
of p o l i t i c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .
The A r a b
l e a d e r s , r e j e c t i n g what t h e y r e g a r d a s a s u b o r d i n a t e s t a t u s i n t h e P a l e s t i n i a n
and v i e w i n g t h e m s e l v e s a s t h e p r o p e r h e i r s of t h e M a n d a t o r y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,
State,
have
refused t o d e v e l o p a s e l f - g o v e r n i n g Arab community p a r a l l e l t o t h a t of t h e J e w s .
so f a r ,
Ipopularly based p o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s .
I gentsia which,
however,
This f a i l u r e
o r t h e f o r m a t i o n of
i s r e c o g n i s e d by , t h e new i n t e l l i -
i s u n l i k e l y t o e x e r c i s e much power u n t i l i t
has t h e b a c k i n g
I of a l a r g e r m i d d l e c l a s s .
I Need f o r
:
Nor,
h a v e t h e y b e e n - p r e p a r e d to s e c t h e i r p o s i t i o n c a l l e d i n q u e s t i o n b y s u c h
d e r a o c r a c t i c forms a s e l e c t i o n s f o r t h e A r a b H i g h e r ' C o m m i t t e e ,
112, , ;
"'"
Arab^Educatipn.
Many A r a b s a r e g r a d u a t e s of t h e A m e r i c a n U n i v e r s i t y a t B e i r u t ;
a few have I s t u d i e d i n u n i v e r s i t i e s i n C a i r o , E n g l a n d , E u r o p e and t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ;
i
others
;j r e c e i v e d h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n a t t h e Arab C o l l e g e f o r men and t h e Women's T r a i n i n g
l i n Jerusalem,
b o t h of w h i c h a r e e f f i c i e n t - , b u t
f institutions..
inadequately financed
College
eager
to
B u t t h e numbers r e c e i v i n g s u c h e d u c a t i o n o r e s t i l l ' m i s e r a b l y - s m a l l ,
since t h e o n l y u n i v e r s i t y i n P a l e s t i n e ,
only i n H e b r e w .
have Government
The A r a b s a r e "aware of W e s t e r n c i v i l i s a t i o n a n d i n c r e a s i n g l y
share i t s b e n e f i t s .
t h e Hebrew U n i v e r s i t y on Mount S c o p u s ,
So t o o w i t h s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n . .
secondary s c h o o l s i n t h e w h o l e of P a l e s t i n e ,
teaches
T h e r e a r e o n l y some f i f t e e n Arab- .
and one f u l l y
developed
agricultural
school - t h e K a d o o r i e S c h o o l a t T u l k a r m w h i c h s p e c i a l i s e s i n t h e t r a i n i n g - of t e a c h e r s
of a g r i c u l t u r e f o r Arab s c h o o l s .
inadequate.
per c e n t ,
Government,
With o n l y 65 p l a c e s ,
however,
i t too i s
The p r o b l e m of t e a c h i n g modern m e t h o d s of a g r i c u l t u r e
to a
totally..-,
population
of w h i c h g a i n s i t s l i v i n g b y f a r m i n g h a s n o t y e t b e e n s o l v e d b y t h e
or f a c e d by t h e A r a b p o l i t i c i a n s .
F a c i l i t i e s for
technical-education
r e no b e t t e r - a s i n g l e s c h o o l w i t h some.' 60 p l a c e s .
fi
. On.the primary l e v e l the p o s i t i o n i s s l i g h t l y b e t t e r .
The s c h o o l s a r e
the c o n t r o l of t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n and f i n a n c e d by p u b l i c f u n d s .
tho p r i m a r y e d u c a t i o n i s w e l l p l a n n e d and a d m i n i s t e r e d .
ill
­
It
As f a r - a s i t
under
goes,
i s n o t merely a bookish
*
CHAPTER VTII
-
PAGE 5 education, but includes also manual-training and.-instruction i n a g r i c u l t u r e ,
t h e equipment i s a v a i l a b l e . .
Some of t h e s c h o o l g a r d e n s w h i c h s u r r o u n d t h e
i n t h e Arab v i l l a g e s a r e models of n e a t n e s s and s k i l l ,
something l e s s than half
to-day..
where
-.But t h e f a c t
schools
remains
that
t h e A r a b c h i l d r e n who would l i k e t o a t t e n d s c h o o l c a n do so
Even, i n a w e a l t h y town l i k e . H a i f a ,
we were t o l d b y t h e M u n i c i p a l Commission^
t h a t h a l f t h e Arab b o y s and. the, m a j o r i t y , of the- Arab g i r l s r e c e i v e no e d u c a t i o n a t
I n most of t h e c o u n t r y d i s t r i c t s t h e . s i t u a t i o n i s - s t i l l w o r s e ,
regard to the g i r l s .
Hi-,
Only, one Arab g i r l i n e i g h t r e c e i v e s any
particularly
with
education.
T h i s i s a l l t h e more t r a g i c s i n c e t h e d e s i r e f o r e d u c a t i o n i s now s t r o n g
out the poorer c l a s s e s ,
Indeed,
not merely i n the c i t i e s ,
through­
b u t i n almost every Arab v i l l a g e .
some v i l l a g e s v i s i t e d b y t h e Committee had e i t h e r b u i l t t h e i r own s c h o o l s
c o m p l e t e l y from v o l u n t a r y s u b s c r i p t i o n s by t h e v i l l a g e r s o r had c o n t r i b u t e d
t h e i r c o s t on t h e i r own i n i t i a t i v e .
15.
all,
-...
-
l a r g e l y to
-. ­
The l a m e n t a b l e c o n d i t i o n of Arab. . e d u c a t i o n i s a r e a l c a u s e f o r d i s c o n t e n t .
d i s c o n t e n t i s i n c r e a s e d b y t h e c o n t r a s t w i t h t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s . of f e r e d
child.
Jewish education i n P a l e s t i n e i s
f e e s which Jewish p a r e n t s can a f f o r d
opportunity for primary education,
opportunity for technical,
This
to t h e Jewish
f i n a n c e d by t h e J e w i s h community and -by t h e
t o pay.
P r a c t i c a l l y every- J e w i s h c h i l d ' h a s t h e
and t h o s e who can a f f o r d
the fees
have ample
s e c o n d a r y and u n i v e r s i t y e d u c a t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e .
Government c o n t r i b u t e s o n l y a s m a l l p e r c a p i t a g r a n t
i n a i d and e x e r c i s e s
The
little
c o n t r o l of t h e : c u r r i c u l u m . .
- - - - - -
16.
'
It is difficult
t o a v o i d t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e t i m e has' come f o r - t h e
Arab
:
community t o assume t h e same r e s p o n s i b i l i t y w i t h r e g a r d t o e d u c a t i o n a s t h e J e w i s h ;
W i t h a d v i c e and f i n a n c i a l
aid from t h e Government,
b i l i t y on t h e p a r t of. t h e Arab l e a d e r s h i p ,
be introdued w i t h i n the next ten y e a r s .
point
of view;- t h e r e c a n be no r e a l
population.
and w i t h a new s e n s e o f
c o m p u l s o r y e d u c a t i o n c o u l d , we w e r e
informed
' T h i s i s n o t o n l y e s s e n t i a l from a n educational
u n i t y bet-ween a l i t e r a t e and a n
illiterate
- -
-
-
The A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ;
17.
respohsi­
\-' '
P a l e s t i n e i s a d m i n i s t e r e d by o f f i c i a l s 'of t h e B r i t i s h C o l o n i a l S e r v i c e .
t o t h e p r o v i s i o n s of t h e M a n d a t e , a l l "major d e c i s i o n s ' o f
a s t h e y would b e f o r a C o l o n i a l t e r r i t o r y . '
p o l i c y a r e t a k e n i n London
As' "Mr. C h u r c h i l l h a s s a i d : '
s u g g e s t i o n t h a t y h e H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r e i t h e r h a s a p o l i c y of h i s own i n
t o t h a t of His Majesty's-Government,
"Government w o u l d , p e r m i t
British Administration".
or t h a t ,
him i c - " c a r r y i t
Indeed,
If
Subje
"the­
cohtra-distirilj
t h i s were so, His Majesty-'s
o u t , w o u l d "be f o r e i g n t o a l l t h e t r a d i t i o n s o
t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of P a l e s t i n e
has probably l e s s
/freedom
ISC
W
CHAPTER V I I I - PAGE 6
freedom of a c t i o n t h a n t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n s
because t h e a f f a i r s
of some l e s s d e v e l o p e d t e r r i t o r i e s ,
of P a l e s t i n e a r o u s e m o r e / p u b l i c I n t e r e s t ,
simply
a r e t h e s u b j e c t of more
q u e s t i o n s i n t h e House, of Commons, and m u s t t h e r e f o r e be s u p e r v i s e d m o r e . c l o s e l y by t h e
Responsible
l8,.
Minister.
While a d m i t t i n g t h i s d i f f i c u l t y ,
we must e x p r e s s t h e v i e w t h a t t h i s
system
m i l i t a t e s most g r a v e l y a g a i n s t t h e c h a n c e s of r e c o n c i l i a t i o n b e t w e e n - J e w a n d Arab.,
A
d e l i c a t e s i t u a t i o n - a n d t h e s i t u a t i o n i n P a l e s t i n e i s a l w a y s d e l i c a t e - c a n n o t b e met
successfully by remote c o n t r o l .
like t h e g e n e r a l
not d o n e ,
Within a general directive,
conducting t h e - b a t t l e ,
must b e g i v e n t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . ,
If ' this
is
t h e c h a n c e of r e c o n c i l i n g t h e i n t e r e s t s ' o f ' - t h e N a t i o n a l Home w i t h t h o s e of
the Arabs of P a l e s t i n e i s s m a l l
19.
t h e ' man on t h e s p o t ,
In Palestine itself,
indeed.
we a l s o found a t e n d e n c y t o c e n t r a l i s a t i o n w h i c h was
e r i t i c i s e d b y t h e P e e l Commission b u t w h i c h i s i n p a r t a t l e a s t a n o t h e r
inevitable
consequence of t h e dominant r o l e of p o l i t i c s i n t h e l i f e of t h e c o u n t r y .
Since
administrative question,
transformed
however i n s i g n i f i c a n t
in itself,
I into a p o l i t i c a l i s s u e b y one community o r t h e o t h e r ,
1 every a c t i o n t o b e c a r e f u l l y
often made,, i s p a r t l y a r e s u l t
t h e r e I s a natural tendency for
scrutinised at the centre.
I tion i n d e a l i n g w i t h m a t t e r s n o t a t f i r s t
i s l i a b l e to be
The s l o w n e s s of t h e A d r a i n i s t r a -
sight political,
a g a i n s t which complaint
of t h i s nnd p a r t l y of t h e f a c t
through whose h a n d s a l l i m p o r t a n t b u s i n e s s m u s t p a s s ,
every
t h a t the Chief
i s himself
is
Secretary,
o b l i g e d t o g i v e much
of h i s t i m e t o c o n d u c t i n g r e l a t i o n s of a q u a s i - d i p l o m a t i c c h a r a c t e r w i t h t h e l e a d e r s of
Hthe Arab and J e w i s h
20..
communities.
P a l e s t i n e i s a -unique c o u n t r y , b e a r i n g no r e s e m b l a n c e t o most of t h e c o u n t r i e s
(administered by the B r i t i s h C o l o n i a l S e r v i c e .
I t may b e q u e s t i o n e d t h e r e f o r e
whether
a n , A d m i n i s t r a t i o n of t h e C o l o n i a l t y p e i s t h e i d e a l i n s t r u m e n t f o r g o v e r n i n g two p e o p l e s
leach of w h i c h ,
I independence.
i n t h e a b s e n c e of t h e o t h e r ,
would p r o b a b l y b y now b e e n j o y i n g
On t h e o t h e r hand, i t seems d i f f i c u l t
complete
to foresee r a d i c a l changes i n t h e
system s o l o n g a s t h e d i v i s i o n b e t w e e n A r a b s a n d J e w s compels B r i t i s h o f f i c i a l s
iassume s o e x t e n s i v e a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , , and i n v i e w of t h e f a c t t h a t
6
to
t h e i r a c t i o n s m u s t be
I accounted f o r b o t h t o P a r l i a m e n t and t o an i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i s a t i o n ,
l^o a k e e n l y i n t e r e s t e d p u b l i c
each r e s p o n s i v e
opinion.
What i s n o t open t o q u e s t i o n i s t h e p a t i e n c e and l o y a l t y t o t h e i r t a s k of t h e
of
jPfficials
on whose s h o u l d e r s r e s t s t h e main b u r d e n of t h i s heavy r e s p o n s i b i l i t y .
Iprere i m p r e s s e d a l s o by t h e g e n e r a l l y h i g h s t a n d a r d of t h e d i s t r i c t
We
administration.
/it
is
CHAPTER V I I I
It
is difficult
-
PAGE 7
v
f o r t h o s e who have n o t v i s i t e d P a l e s t i n e t o i m a g i n e t h e
u n d e r which t h e s e o f f i c i a l s
t o l i v e and work.
- Arab and J e w i s h ,
We were e s p e c i a l l y
as well as B r i t i s h - a r e
i m p r e s s e d by t h e a n x i e t y ,
n e r v o u s . s t r a i n t o w h i c h many p o l i c e o f f i c i a l s
tension
compelled
l o n e l i n e s s and
are unavoidably exposed.
seemed t o us t h a t t h e C i v i l S e r v a n t s i n P a l e s t i n e were s u b j e c t e d t o
It
also
an
a d d i t i o n a l a n x i e t y w h i c h we c o u l d n o t r e g a r d a s u n a v o i d a b l e o r i n t h e b e s t
i n t e r e s t s of t h e c o u n t r y ,
as a r e s u l t
of t h e g e n e r a l l y and s o m e t i m e s
i n a d e q u a t e s a l a r i e s which t h e y a t p r e s e n t
receive.
pitifully
CHAPTER
PUBLIC
1,
P a l e s t i n e i s an armed oampc
crossed the f r o n t i e r ,
3i3p.h d a y .
191
IX
SECURITY
We Sow/ s i g n s of t h i s a l m o s t a s s o o n a s we
and we "became more and more, aware o f t h e t e n s e
Many " b u i l d i n g s h a v e b a r b e d w i r e and o t h e r d e f e n c e s .
h i o s e l y g u a r d e d by armed p o l i c e ,
atmosphere
We o u r s e l v e s w e r e
and o f t e n e s c o r t e d b y a r m o u r e d c a r s .
It is
obvious t h a t v e r y c o n s i d e r a b l e m i l i t a r y f o r c e s and l a r g e n u m b e r s of p o l i c e a r e k e p t
in P a l e s t i n e , ,
The p o l i c e a r e armed;
they a r e conspicuous everywhere;
-at t h e c o u n t r y t h e r e a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y b u i l t p o l i c e
2
0
and t h r o u g h ­
barracks,
We do n o t t h i n k t h a t t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n P a l e s t i n e s i n c e t h e Mandate have been
fully a p p r e c i a t e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d ,
and a c c o r d i n g l y we h a v e t h o u g h t it r i g h t
set o u t i n Appendix V a l i s t of t h e main i n c i d e n t s of d i s o r d e r .
up to t h e y e a r 1939 t h e J e w s e x e r c i s e d v e r y g r e a t r e s t r a i n t .
to
I t w i l l be seen
I t is i n r e c e n t
that
years
that t h e t h r e a t t o l a w a n d o r d e r h a s come from them,
3o
A r e v i v a l of t h e i l l e g a l i m m i g r a t i o n t r a f f i c
the war i n E u r o p e ,
h a s o c c u r r e d s i n c e t h e end of
D u r i n g t h e summer of 1 9 4 5 t h e r e w a s an i n f l u x
scale b y l a n d o v e r t h e n o r t h e r n f r o n t i e r .
opses of e n t r y by s e a ,
on a s u b s t a n t i a l
More r e c e n t l y t h e r e have been
The J e w i s h o r g a n i s a t i o n s a r e a c t i v e l y e n g a g e d i n
successive
these
j o p e r a t i o n s . c a r r i e d , o u t l a t t e r l y , b y t h e p u r c h a s e o r c h a r t e r of s h i p s f o r v o y a g e s
from s o u t h e r n E u r o p e i n t h e a b s e n c e of e f f e c t i v e
plashes a r e l i a b l e
t o a r i s e from t h e e f f o r t s
c o n t r o l of e m b a r k a t i o n ,
to prevent interference;
have a r i s e n f r o m t h e s e a r c h f o r i l l e g a l i m m i g r a n t s
Ijincidents d i r e c t l y c o n c e r n e d -with i l l e g a l
of p a t r o l l a u n c h e s ,
and a r m s .
Armed
a number
Moreover,
as r e c e n t
i m m i g r a t i o n , may be c i t e d t h e s a b o t a g e
and a t t a c k s on c o a s t g u a r d
stations.
The p r e s e n t s c a l e and m e t h o d of i l l e g a l i m m i g r a t i o n by s e a c a n be s e e n
three r e c e n t c a s e s .
Two s h i p s a r r i v e d t o w a r d s t h e e n d of o u r s t a y in P a l e s t i n e ,
md one a few weeks p r e v i o u s l y .
jthe u s u a l p r o c e d u r e . ,
jto check,
from
A l l t h r e e were i n t e r c e p t e d and, in accordance w i t h
t h e i l l e g a l i m m i g r a n t s t a k e n t o a c l e a r a n c e camp w h e r e ,
they were r e l e a s e d ,
subject
t h e i r n u m b e r s b e i n g d e d u c t e d from t h e i m m i g r a t i o n
quota,
L'
pie f i r s t
of t h e s e s h i p s s a i l e d from n o r t h e r n I t a l y .
She c a r r i e d 911 i m m i g r a n t s ,
554 men and 347 women.
phe s e c o n d c a r r i e d 247 i m m i g r a n t s ,
rSfe young p e o p l e . .
I t "Was h e r m a i d e n v o y a g e .
P r a c t i c a l l y a l l w e r e young p e o p l e ,
of whom 89 -were -women.
W i t h one e x c e p t i o n ,
The t h i r d , w h i c h a r r i v e d on t h e d a y of o u r d e p a r t u r e
from
l ^ l e s t i n e , w a s r e p o r t e d i n t h e p r e s s ns c a n i n g from a F r e n c h M e d i t e r r a n e a n p o r t
c a r r y i n g 733 immigrants,
/The,,.,
all
'
:
'
OHPATBR IX
Page
3
R
,
- T h e ' s e c o n d s h i p , a c c o r d i n g t o p r e s s r e p o r t s , Was e x p e c t e d t o l a n d t h e
immigrants a t Tel-Aviv,
and t h e p l a n s f o r s c r e e n i n g t h e i m m i g r a n t s w e r e e v i d e n t
the s p o r a d i c " i n c i d e n t s w h i c h o c c u r r e d i n t h a t a r e a .
A p a r t from f i r i n g
in
on t h e p o l i c e , .
;
jfc.ere were i n c i d e n t s of m i n i n g and b l o c k i n g of a c c e s s by r o a d and r a i l w h i c h c o u l d ,
only be d e s i g n e d t o i s o l a t e
4,
A sinister
forces.
the approach to the b e a c h ;
a s p e c t of r e c e n t y e a r s i s t h e ' d e v e l o p m e n t of l a r g e i l l e g a l
The f o l l o w i n g
i s t h e ' s t r u c t u r e a s s t a t e d t o u s by t h e m i l i t a r y
The g e n e r a l o r g a n i s a t i o n "is t h e "Haganah".
the f o r m e r
organisation,
armed
authorities.
I t i s an i l l e g a l d e v e l o p m e n t of
i n t h e d a y s of T u r k i s h r u l e ,
of armed "Watchmen Who p r o t e c t e d
:
Jewish s e t t l e m e n t s .
­
Today i t i s c o m p l e t e l y o r g a n i s e d , u n d e r a c e n t r a l c o n t r o l
and
with s u b s i d i a r y t e r r i t o r i a l commands, i n t h r e e b r a n c h e s , -each of w h i c h i n c l u d e s
women," v i z : - '
"
'
,
.
A s t a t i c f o r c e composed of s e t t l e r s and t o w n s f o l k ^ -with an:'eBtiiaated s t r e n g t h
of 4 0 , 0 0 0 ;
:
A field'army,
'
.
b a s e d on t h e J e w i s h S e t t l e m e n t P o l i c e and t r a i n e d i n more,-,
mobile o p e r a t i o n s , ' w i t h an e s t i m a t e d s t r e n g t h of 1 6 , 0 0 0 ;
.
A f u l l - t i m e f o r c e ( P a l m a c h ) , p e r m a n e n t l y m o b i l i s e d and p r o v i d e d w i t h - - t r a n s p o r t ,
with an e s t i m a t e d p e a c e e s t a b l i s h m e n t of 2,000 and war e s t a b l i s h m e n t of some 6 , 0 0 0 .
I t i s known t h a t t h e Haganah h a s b e e n p r o e u r i n g arms o v e r a p e r i o d . o f - y e a r s .
Vast q u a n t i t i e s have b e e n o b t a i n e d from t h e r e s i d u e of t h e c a m p a i g n s i n . t h e K i d d l e
East,
Arms and ammunition a r e k e p t and c o n c e a l e d i n s p e c i a l l y c o n s t r u c t e d c a c h e s
s e t t l e m e n t s ahd"towns*
military a u t h o r i t i e s ,
The f o l l o w i n g a r e p a r t i c u l a r s ,
furnished
to u s by t h e
of a s e a r c h -which Was c o n d u c t e d a t B i r i y a S e t t l e m e n t
the t i m e of o u r ' a r r i v a l
in
,
about,
in P a l e s t i n e .
D u r i n g "'"the n i g h t of 27th/28th F e b r u a r y , 1946,
s h o t s w e r e f i r e d a t a. s e n t r y
of t h e A r a b L e g i o n " a t h i s p o s t d i s t a n t , s o m e m i l e or m i l e and a h a l f from. B i r i y a .
-Although'wounded i n t h e t h i g h ,
he r e t u r n e d t h e f i r e .
N e ^ t morning b l o o d s t a i n s and ,
bandages w e r e f o u n d and " p o l i c e dogs c a r r i e d a l i n e d i r e c t from t h e r e
to,Biriya.
B i r i y a i s s i t u a t e d i n a commanding p o s i t i o n on t h e h i l l s of N o r t h e r n . G a l i l e e . ,
l i t can o n l y be d e s c r i b e d a s a f o r t .
The " p o p u l a t i o n o f B i r i y a w e r e d e t a i n e d .
,
.
They c o n s i s t e d of 25 m e n , . . T h e i r . . .
:
i d e n t i t y c a r d s showed.- that t h e y came from o t h e r p a r t s of P a l e s t i n e .
t h a t t h e y -were p p l a t o o n u n d e r g o i n g t r a i n i n g ,
I t was a p p a r e n t
,
.
.
A
s
e
a
r
c
n
. ...
/
CHAPTER vPC ' '
'
A s e a r e h in t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d r e v e a l e d
o t h e r equipment,
grenades,
two arras c a c h e s , .
one S t e n g u n , - o n e B r e n , f o u r modern r i f l e s ,
-
-
:
3
They c o n t a i n e d , ; among
one - w i r e l e s s s e t a n d
' .
.
Numerous documents -were a l s o d i s c o v e r e d i n
connected the. caches w i t h B i r i y a ,
identified
Page
the c a c h e s .
Their
substance
and a p o l i c e dog t a k i n g s c e n t f r o m t h e
one of t h e men i n t h e b u i l d i n g a t B i r i y a .
The d o c u m e n t s i n c l u d e d
o r d e r s f o r t h e camp, n o t e s on t h e s t r u c t u r e and d u t i e s of t h e H a g a n a h ,
m a n u a l s , n o t e s on n e i g h b o u r i n g m i l i t a r y and p o l i c e
5,
Something i n t h e n a t u r e of c o n s c r i p t i o n
documents
standing
training,
canps*
i s in forcej
a
s
i s shown by two p r e s s
:
n o t i c e s of t h e 6 t h November, 1.945 -
Palestine Post.. . :
"A y e a r ' s n a t i o n a l s e r v i c e i n communal s e t t l e m e n t s w i l l
r e q u i r e d from all. Jewish, senior
s c h o o l c h i l d r e n aged 1 7 - 1 8 ;
i t was o b l i g a t o r y only t o t h o s e , who h a d a l r e a d y l e f t
:
Haboker, ( i n t h i s c a s e a t r a n s l a t i o n f r o m
htiw.be
t i l l new
school,-"'
Hebrew),
"The n a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s h a v e d e c i d e d t o w i d e n t h e s c o p e of
t h e y e a r ' . s . . . s e r v i c e d u t y , w h i c h up t o now h a s b e e n i m p o s e d on g r a d u a t e s
i.
of
the s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l s ,
and t o i m p o s e i t on a l l g i r l s and b o y s a g e d
17^-16.. ..
The C o u n c i l of Youth O r g a n i s a t i o n s d e c i d e d ,
31,10,45..., immediately to begin f u l f i l m e n t
Youth,
at i t s session
of t h e o r d e r g i v e n t o
The C o u n c i l assumed t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of e n l i s t i n g
a l l members of t h e , M o v e m e n t s w h o w e r e born i n 1 9 2 8 ,
of
on
the
immediately
The e n l i s t m e n t
t h e p u p i l s of t h e s e c o n d a r y and t r a d e s c h o o l s w i l l be c a r r i e d
a t a t i m e which i s to be s p e c i a l l y f i x e d ,
Eefore 1 1 * 1 1 . 4 5 . ,
out
every
Movement m u s t s u b m i t t o t h e J e w i s h Agency'.s R e c r u i t i n g D e p a r t m e n t i n
Tel-Aviv a r o s t e r
A useful
of i t s members,, m a l e and f e m a l e ' , who m u s t e n l i s t . "
a d j u n c t f o r t r a i n i n g p u r p o s e s i s p r o v i d e d from t h e J e w i s h
P o l i c e , , a s u p p l e m e n t a r y p o l i c e f o r c e o r i g i n a l l y f o r m e d i n 1936. f o r t h e
p r o t e c t i o n of Jewish settlements.
Settlement
close
The minimum t e r m of s e r v i c e i s s i x m o n t h s
w h i c h p e r i o d t h e y a r e p a i d by t h e -Government.,
We w e r e i n f o r m e d t h a t i t
happens t h a t they leave.-the p o l i c e f o r c e a f t e r
a s h o r t p e r i o d of s e r v i c e and
after
serve
i n t h e Haganah..
-'
/ 6 t i
A
p
p
r
t
,...
during
often
6
there­
0
6.
'
CHAPTER
A p a r t from t h e Haganah,
two f u r t h e r
having c u t away from t h e p a r e n t body.-
IX
Page
illegal
2^
armed o r g a n i s a t i o n s e x i s t ,
One l s " t " h e " i r g u n £ v a i L e u m i " , w h i c h was
formed i n 1 9 3 5 b y d i s s i d e n t members of. t h e Hag an a h .
T h e - o t h e r i s t h e : " S t e r n Group"
j ^ h i o h b r o k e away from t h e I r g u n e a r l y i n - t h e w a r when t h e l a t t e r
"armistice".
announced, an
T h e "Irgun Operates u n d e r i t s own. s e c r e t - c o m m a n d . m a i n l y i n s a b o t a g e and
t e r r o r i s m a g a i n s t the Mandatory;
i t s s t r e n g t h - . . i s e s t i m a t e d a t . from 3 , 0 0 0 . t o 5 , 0 0 0 *
The S t e r n Group e n g a g e s i n t e r r o r i s m ; '
7,
both
I t seams c l e a r
i t s s t r e n g t h i s s a i d , t o be. b e t w e e n 200 and 3 0 0 .
t h a t the a c t i v i t i e s
of a l l t h e s e b o d i e s c o u l d be g r e a t l y
reduced i f t h e r e w a s a n y ' ' G O - o p e r a t i o r i - " w i t h t h e - - a u t h o r i t i e s b y t h e J e w i s h Agency
and i t s o f f i c e r s ,
and by t h e r e s t
of t h e p o p u l a t i o n . .
Unfortunately
t h e J e w i s h Agency
ceased t o c o - o p e r a t e -with t h e G o v e r n m e n t , ' or a t l e a s t r e d u c e d ; t h e m e a s u r e o f
co-operation
as from t h e e n d of" t h e w a r .
.
We s e t o u t i n t h e f o r m of a n e x t r a c t from t h e P a l e s t i n e P o s t
December, 1 9 4 5 ,
tfter
their
of t h e 3 0 t h
t h e a t t i t u d e " ' of t h e "Chairman of t h e E x e c u t i v e , of t h e J e w i s h Agency
t h e m u r d e r s of t h e 2 7 t h December,-1945.
I n t h e c o u r s e of h i s e v i d e n c e
"before
us Mr. Ben G u r i o n s a i d t h a t l i e t o b k r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r g i v i n g t h i s s t a t e m e n t t o
1
the p r e s s J
'
.
,
:
­
" F o l l o w i n g upon t h e o u t r a g e s -which o c c u r r e d , on T h u r s d a y n i g h t , . H i s
E x c e l l e n c y t h e H i g h C o m m i s s i o n e r summoned Mr. D, Ben G u r i o n .and. Mr... Mi- S h e r t o k
t o s e e him a t Government -House; on F r i d a y "morning, i t "Was o f f i c i a l l y
yesterday,
1
"' '
stated
.
I t i s l e a r n e d t h a t d u r i n g t h e i n t e r v i e w , Mr. Een G u r i o n and. Mr, S h e r t o k
declared
t h a t t h e J e w i s h Agency c o m p l e t e l y d i s s o c i a t e d , t h e m s e l v e s
from t h e
m u r d e r o u s a t t a c k s on Government, and army e s t a b l i s h m e n t s p e r p e t r a t e d on T h u r s d a y '
night.
the
T h e y e x p r e s s e d t h e i r p r o f o u n d s o r r o w at t h e l o s s of l i f e c a u s e d by
attacks.
But,
they s t a t e d ,
any e f f o r t s
s u c h a c t s w o u l d be r e n d e r e d f u t i l e
b y t h e J e w i s h Agency to a s s i s t i n p r e v e n t i n g
by t h e p o l i c y p u r s u e d i n P a l e s t i n e b y H i s
M a j e s t y " s G o v e r n m e n t on w h i c h t h e p r i m a r y r e s p o n s i b i l i t y r e s t s f o r t h e
situation created in the country,
and -which h a d l e d i n r e c e n t w e e k s to b l o o d ­
shed a n d i n n o c e n t v i c t i m s among J e w s ,
?
B r i t o n s and o t h e r s .
The J e w i s h Agency r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s added t h a t it "Was d i f f i c u l t
to t h e T i s h u v to o b s e r v e
to a p p e a l
t h e law a t a t i m e when t h e M a n d a t o r y G o v e r n m e n t
was c o n s i s t e n t l y v i o l a t i n g
the P a l e s t i n e Mandate."
tragic
t h e f u n d a m e n t a l law of t h e c o u n t r y ' embodied in
y
S o
long,...,,
itself
'
:
'-
CHAPTER. . LX .
Page
5
B o . l o n g a s t h i s k i n d of v i e w i s p u t f o r w a r d by' t h e l e a d e r s Of t h e J e w i s h Agency
i t i s i m p o s s i b l e to look f o r s e t t l e d c o n d i t i o n s . -
- -"'-'­
. A l l t h r e e o r g a n i s a t i o n s t o w h i c h r e f e r e n c e ' h a s ' been made a r e
We r e c o g n i s e t h a t u n t i l c o m p a r a t i v e l y r e c e n t l y ,
Agency t o c u r b a t t a c k s ;
we r e g r e t t h a t t h e s e e f f o r t s
believe that those responsible for
illegal.'-
e f f o r t s w e r e made by t h e J e w i s h
appear t o have c e a s e d , .
We
t h e w o r k i n g of t h e J e w i s h Agency - a body of
g r e a t power and i n f l u e n c e o v e r t h e Jews i n P a l e s t i n e - c o u l d do a g r e a t d e a l
towards
l o u t t i n g an end t o o u t r a g e s s u c h a s we h a v e d e s c r i b e d , v/hioh p l a c e t h e p e o p l e
of
P a l e s t i n e a s w e l l a s B r i t i s h s o l d i e r s and p o l i c e in c o n s t a n t d a n g e r .
P r i v a t e armies ought n o t to e x i s t ;
the world
8,-
they c o n s t i t u t e a danger to the p e a c e - of ­
"
T
-
The p o s i t i o n of G r e a t B r i t a i n a s M a n d a t o r y i s n o t a h a p p y o n e . ;
of t h e E x e c u t i v e of t h e J e w i s h Agency s a i d t h a t ,
f
The C h a i r m a n
i n t h e e v e n t of t h e w i t h d r a w a l
­
of t h e B r i t i s h t r o o p s ,
t h e J e w s -Would t a k e c a r e of t h e m s e l v e s . - J a m a l
Husseini, replying to a question,
Palestine
1
Effendi
s a i d t h a t i t was t h e w i s h of t h e A r a b s of
t h a t B r i t i s h f o r o e s and p o l i c e s h o u l d be w i t h d r a w n f o r t h w i t h .
Abdul Hadi,-. a l s o r e p r e s e n t i n g , t h e Arab H i g h e r C o m m i t t e e ,
expressed h i s
Aunl Eey
agreement,
Jamal E f f e n d i Husseini s t a t e d t h a t ' h e d i d h o t e x p e c t bloodshed but t h a t ,
w i t h d r a w a l of B r i t i s h f o r c e s ,
on t h e
t h e r e w o u l d b e a r e t u r n t o t h e c o n d i t i o n Which p r e c e d e d
t h e f i r s t w o r l d war ( i , e . p r e - B a l f o u r D e c l a r a t i o n ) .
We a r e c l e a r i n o u r
raiids'.
t h a t if, B r i t i s h f o r c e s w e r e w i t h d r a w n t h e r e - w o u l d be i m m e d i a t e and p r o l o n g e d
b l o o d s h e d t h e end of w h i c h i t i s i m p o s s i b l e
to p r e d i c t .
C H A P T E R
,
X.
­
"
.... :
..
bbv
- GENERAL.
I n v i e w of t h e d i s s o l u t i o n ' o f
184
­
;;."V.
t h e L e a g u e of N a t i o n s and of t h e s t a t e m e n t
of
the
Secretary of S t a t e f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s i n t h e House of Commons on" t h e . 1 3 t h November,.
hh5,
we a s s u m e t h a t t h e B r i t i s h Government w i l l i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e , p r e p a r e a
draft
w
t r u s t e e s h i p Agreement f o r e v e n t u a l s u b m i s s i o n t o t h e United N a t i o n s , and t h a t
Agreement
w i l l i n c l u d e t h e t e r m s under which P a l e s t i n e w i l l be a d m i n i s t e r e d .
propose t o r e f e r
2.
t o t h e e x i s t i n g Mandate i n d e t a i l ;
Our v i e w s o n f u t u r e
i s s e t - o u t i n A p p e n d i x VI.,
and we have n o t h i n g t o add t o them,
W i t h r e g a r d t o t h e " f u t u r e - g o v e r n m e n t of P a l e s t i n e ,
-
pi" a s o l u t i o n b y
-
we have - r e v i e w e d t h e
-
.
.
.
.
"Manifestly the problem
cannot b e s d v e d b y g i v i n g e i t h e r t h e A r a b s o r t h e J e w s a l l t h e y w a n t .
fo the q u e s t i o n
Neither'",
1
w h i c h of them i n t h e end w i l l ' g o v e r n P a l e s t i n e ? '
T h a t i s t h e v i e w w h i c h we a l s o have f o r m e d .
Jermination of t h e M a n d a t e ,
T h e - a n s w e r -.­
m u s t - s u r e l y b e . - ':.
They recommended t h e -
1.
t h e p a r t i t i o n of t h e c o u n t r y b e t w e e n t h e A r a b s and t h e .
f^us ( e x c e p t i n g t h e H o l y P l a c e s )
gelations -with G r e a t B r i t a i n .
and t h e s e t t i n g up of two i n d e p e n d e n t S t a t e s i n
treaty­
These r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w e r e r e j e c t e d by t h e A r a b s and
fthey d i d n o t meet w i t h t h e c o m p l e t e a p p r o v a l of t h e J e w s .
id
question
.
partition.
The P e e l Commission s t a t e d ( C h a p t e r XX, p a r a g r a p h 1 9 ) :
:
We do n o t
i m m i g r a t i o n p o l i c y a r e c o n t a i n e d i n Recommendation No. 6
Ind i n t h e Comments t h e r e u n d e r ,
3.
it
this
I
first i n s t a n c e b y t h e Government of G r e a t B r i t a i n ,
They w e r e a d o p t e d I n
but subsequently a
the
technical
H)ramiss.ion- was s e n t t o P a l e s t i n e t o a s c e r t a i n f a c t s a n d t o c o n s i d e r i n d e t a i l t h e
$Tactical p o s s i b i l i t i e s
of a scheme of p a r t i t i o n .
IbTflmission' s R e p o r t , H i s M a j e s t y ' s
femination
' As a r e s u l t
Partition
Government a n n o u n c e d t h e i r c o n c l u s i o n s
by t h e Commission had shown t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l ,
ffl-fficulties
involved i n
Sie
a c c o r -d i- n- g- l y .!
. p r o p o"s a l
inside P a l e s t i n e w e r e so
their r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
of t h e
...
that-the
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e and
financial
t h e p r o p o s a l t o c r e a t e i n d e p e n d e n t Arab and J e w i s h S t a t e s
f e l -l t o t h e g r o u n d , and H i s M a j e s t y ' s Government c o n t i n u e d
g r e a t t h a t t h e s o l u t i o n of t h e p r o b l e m was i m p r a c t i c a b l e .
t h e g o v e r n m e n t of t h e w h o l e of P a l e s t i n e .
- -
We have c o n s i d e r e d t h e m a t t e r anew a n d we have h e a r d t h e v i e w s of
t n e s s e s of g r e a t e x p e r i e n c e .
P a r t i t i o n has an a p p e a l a t f i r s t
* o s p e c t of e a r l y i n d e p e n d e n c e and s e l f - g o v e r n m e n t
various
s i g h t as g i v i n g a
t o Jews and A r a b s , b u t i n o u r v i e w
^ p a r t i t i o n would have any' c h a n c e u n l e s s i t was b a s i c a l l y a c c e p t a b l e t o J e w s and A r a b s ,
Id t h e r e i s no s i g n of t h a t t o - d a y .
I the s o l u t i o n .
We a r e a c c o r d i n g l y u n a b l e t o recommend
A.
partition
Palestine
CHAPTER X 1+.
P a l e s t i n e i s a c o u n t r y u n l i k e any o t h e r .
A r a b s and J e w s l i v e .
I t i s n o t m e r e l y a p l a c e i n which
M i l l i o n s of p e o p l e t h r o u g h o u t
t h e world t a k e a fervent
inters
i n P a l e s t i n e and i n i t s Holy P l a c e s and a r e d e e p l y g r i e v e d b y t h e t h o u g h t t h a t i t ha
b e e n t h e s e a t of t r o u b l e f o r so l o n g and b y t h e f e a r t h a t i t may w e l l become t h e
c o c k p i t of a n o t h e r w a r .
Lord M i l n e r i n 1 9 2 3 , h a v i n g d e c l a r e d h i m s e l f a s t r o n g
s u p p o r t e r of p r o - A r a b p o l i c y ,
s a i d : -
^)
" P a l e s t i n e c a n n e v e r b e r e g a r d e d a s a c o u n t r y o n t h e same
a s t h e o t h e r Arab c o u n t r i e s .
t r a d i t i o n i n the matter.
footing
You c a n n o t i g n o r e a l l h i s t o r y and
, You c a n n o t i g n o r e t h e f a c t
that
this.is
t h e c r a d l e of two of t h e g r e a t r e l i g i o n s
of t h e w o r l d .
I t i s a sacred land t o the Arabs, but i t
i s a l s o a sacred land to
- Jew and t h e C h r i s t i a n ;
left
and t h e f u t u r e
.
the
of P a l e s t i n e c a n n o t p o s s i b l y be t o b e d e t e r m i n e d by t h e temporary" i m p r e s s ! t i n s and f e e l i n g s
Arab m a j o r i t y i n t h e c o u n t r y of t h e p r e s e n t
of
the day." The P e e l Commission h a v i n g c i t e d . , t h e s e w o r d s w r o t e ( C h a p t e r I I ,
p a r a g r a p h 51')
"The c a s e s t a t e d by Lord M i l n e r a g a i n s t an Arab c o n t r o l of P a l e s t i n e a p p l i e s
to a Jewish c o n t r o l " .
Efforts
have b e e n made from t i m e t o t i m e t o e n c o u r a g e b o t h A r a b s and Jews to
mutual antagonism;
have f a i l e d
p e r h a p s t h e y m i g h t have b e e n p u r s u e d f u r t h e r .
c a s e of a backward p e o p l e g o i n g t h r o u g h a p e r i o d of t u t e l a g e ;
through
I t i s not
the
t h e i s s u e l i e s between
J e w s and A r a b s .
. .
We b e l i e v e t h i s c a n o n l y b e met b y a c c e p t a n c e of t h e p r i n c i p l e
be no d o m i n a t i o n of t h e one b y t h e o t h e r ,
The s e t t i n g up of s e l f - g o v e r n i n g i n s t i t u t i o n s
shall
i s d e p e n d e n t on the
T h e r e has b e e n l i t t l e
t h a t i n r e c e n t y e a r s and y e t we hope a change may t a k e p l a c e i f
dominance i s removed.
that there
t h a t P a l e s t i n e s h a l l b e n e i t h e r a n A r a b nor
w i l l - t o work t o g e t h e r on t h e p a r t of J e w s and A r a b s ,
s i g n of
and when t h e f e a r of
We do n o t t h i n k t h a t a n y good p u r p o s e w o u l d be s e r v e d b y pur
going i n t o f u r t h e r d e t a i l ;
once t h e w i l l t o work t o g e t h e r a p p e a r s , r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of
both s i d e s w i l l b e of h e l p i n f r a m i n g a c o n s t i t u t i o n ;
be
equally
That e x p r e s s e s o u r v i e w a b s o l u t e l y .
t a k e p a r t i n t h e Government of t h e c o u n t r y b u t t h e s e e f f o r t s
a Jewish S t a t e .
!
u n t i l t h a t h a p p e n s no s t e p can
taken.
Meantime P a l e s t i n e m u s t r e m a i n u n d e r some form of M a n d a t e o r T r u s t e e s h i p . ' We
have s u g g e s t e d e l s e w h e r e i n o u r R e p o r t t h a t much c a n b e done t o e n c o u r a g e
a d v a n c e m e n t b y t h e improvement of e d u c a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s
n a r r o w i n g t h e s o c i a l and economic d i s p a r i t i e s .
possible
to draw t h e communities c l o s e r t o g e t h e r ,
self-government
at the local level.
We f e e l ,
general
and measures d i r e c t e d
too,
that it
to
should be
and f o s t e r a p o p u l a r i n t e r e s t
Especially i n the country d i s t r i c t s , a
/ o f good
^
in
spirit
of good n e i g h b o u r l i n e s s e x i s t s among t h e common p e o p l e , A r a b s and J e w s ,
d e s p i t e t h e g e n e r a l s t a t e of
p o l i t i c a l t e n s i b i i i n the country.
Practical
c o - o p e r a t i o n i s e v i d e n t i n d a y - t o - d a y a f f a i r s . .: - . We s u g g e s t t h a t
a d m i n i s t r a t e e a r e a s m i g h t b e formed,
local
some p u r e l y A r a b o r J e w i s h i n
b u t some of mixed p o p u l a t i o n w h e r e a c o r p o r a t e s e n s e of c i v i c
responsibility
c a n be e n c o u r a g e d a n d a. new b e g i n n i n g made, i n t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of
5.
composition,
self-government.
. . L a n d q u e s t i o n s have b e e n t h e c a u s e of much f r i c t i o n and d i s p u t e
J e w s and A r a b s ,
We a r e opposed t o l e g i s l a t i o n and p r a c t i c e s w h i c h
between
discriminate
against either,
a n d - f o r t h e r e a s o n s a l r e a d y g i v e n v/e recommend t h e
rescission
and r e p l a c e m e n t
of t h e Land T r a n s f e r s R e g u l a t i o n s of 1940 and t h e
prohibition
of r e s t r i c t i o n s l i m i t i n g employment on c e r t a i n . l a n d s
t o members of one r a c e ,
;
community o r c r e e d .
'-
. We a r e .aware of t h e c r i t i c i s m s
''­
of t h e e x i s t i n g - L a n d O r d i n a n c e s a n d we do
not. w i s h i t t o b e - t h o u g h t , t h a t . we. c o n s i d e r t h a t t h e y a f f o r d a d e q u a t e
t o t h e Arab s m a l l - o w n e r s and t e n a n t s .
devise
part
I n our o p i n i o n i t
protection
should be p o s s i b l e
to
O r d i n a n c e s f u r n i s h i n g p r o p e r p r o t e c t i o n t o s u c h A r a b s no m a t t e r i n w h a t
of P a l e s t i n e t h e y may r e s i d e .
6.
We h a v e a l r e a d y s t a t e d t h a t
the 100,000 c e r t i f i c a t e s
for Palestine,
i m m e d i a t e a u t h o r i s a t i o n of w h i c h we recommend, w i l l p r o v i d e f o r o n l y a
s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n of t h e t o t a l number of J e w i s h r e f u g e e s i n E u r o p e .
p r o b l e m of r e f u g e e s m u s t , we f e e l ,
considered opinion i t
the
comparatively
The g e n e r a l
be d e a l t w i t h b y t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s ,
I n our
i s a m a t t e r f o r r e g r e t t h a t t h i s d i s t r e s s i n g problem has
not been d e a l t with before t h i s time.
T r u e t h e g r e a t Powers have had many
p r o b l e m s f a c i n g them and t h e y h a v e d e a l t w i t h many d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s , b u t
the
f a c t r e m a i n s t h a t Jews and o t h e r s have r e m a i n e d i n camps o r c e n t r e s f o r v e r y many
months,
*
We o b s e r v e t h a t a t a r e c e n t m e e t i n g of t h e G e n e r a l Assembly of t h e U n i t e d
N a t i o n s t h e p r o b l e m of d i s p l a c e d p e r s o n s and r e f u g e e s
r e c o g n i s e d t o b e one of i m m e d i a t e u r g e n c y ,
of a l l c a t e g o r i e s was
and i t was r e f e r r e d t o t h e Economic
and S o c i a l C o u n c i l w h i c h h a s s i n c e e s t a b l i s h e d a s p e c i a l Committee f o r i t s
ation.
consider­
W i t h o u t p r e s u m i n g t o a d v i s e t h a t C o m m i t t e e , and w i t h no d e s i r e t o go
beyond our Terms of R e f e r e n c e ,
we c a n n o t b u t o b s e r v e t h a t i n t e r n a t i o n a l
a l r e a d y e s t a b l i s h e d f o r d e a l i n g w i t h r e f u g e e p r o b l e m s have b e e n u n a b l e ,
insufficiency
of f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s o r o t h e r r e a s o n s ,
i n them a t t h e t i m e of t h e i r f o r m a t i o n .
bodies
through
t o f u l f i l the h o p e s
The w o r l d l o o k s f o r w a r d ,
placed
we b e l i e v e , t o ,
/the birth
CHaPTisR X
the b i r t h of a t r u l y e f f e c t i v e
-
..PflffiS 4
a g e n c y of i n t e r n a t i o n a l
collaboration in
the
h u m a n i t a r i a n t a s k of m i g r a t i o n and. r e s e t t l e m e n t .
YJe make g r a t e f u l
acknowledgment of our d e e p i n d e b t e d n e s s t o
c i v i l and m i l i t a r y o f f i c e r s
of o u r Wo G o v e r n m e n t s .
the
They have g i v e n us
w i l l i n g and a b l e a s s i s t a n c e t h r o u g h o u t o u r l o n g j o u r n e y i n g s and made
p o s s i b l e f o r us t o c o m p l e t e t h e r e p o r t w i t h i n t h e p e r i o d
Our s t a f f
allotted.
l i s t e d i n A p p e n d i x V I I h a s worked a d m i r a b l y and
u n d e r p r e s s u r e and o f t e n i n d i f f i c u l t
H.G. V i n c e n t ,
L . L . Rood,
efficiently
circumstances.
F i n a l l y we d e s i r e t o t e n d e r o u r s i n c e r e t h a n k s t o our
Secretaries,
it
H. B e e l e y , E.M. W i l s o n .
efficient