Palestine
In the House of Commons on Monday there was a debate on Palestine, and though there was plenty of criticism of the Government there was a welcome change from the rash tendency of three weeks ago to accuse the Government before the whole world of the dishonour- able repudiation of a pledge. Dr. Drummond Shiels said that the White Paper which had been quite mis- understood was merely a fusion of the document of 1922, the Shaw Report and the Hope Simpson Report. It had been intended only as a basis of discussion. The Government would have liked nothing better than a Round Table Conference, but the Arabs had refused it. No action, however, would be taken until after con- sultation with both Jews and Arabs. Meanwhile the Government would guarantee a loan of £2,500,000 for development, and in the first few years would pay both interest and Sinking Fund charges. Land would thus be provided for ten thousand families, landless Arabs having the first claim. There was no idea of checking Jewish immigration at the present point, and as a matter of fact 1,480 new permits would be granted to Jews. Mr. Lloyd George was unguarded in his language and Sir Herbert Samuel refused to be appeased, but it is most satisfactory that the danger of making Palestine the plaything of partisans at the expense of British repute seems to be passing.
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