Great Britain, the Jews and Palestine (Samuel Landman, 1936).docx

Great Britain, the Jews and Palestine Samuel Landman, New Zionist Press, London 1936, 19 p.

The author of this pamphlet is a well-known English Zionist. He was Hon. Secretary of the Joint Zionist Council of the United ingdom in !"!#$ Joint Editor of the% Zionist% in !"!&-!' and (uthor of pamphlets on %History of  Zionism% and % Zionism$ )ts *rganisation and )nstitutions% pu+lished during the war. ,rom !"! to !"## he was Solicitor and Secretary to the Zionist *rganisation. He is now egal (d/iser to the 0ew Zionist *rganisation.

GR!" BR#"!#N, "$ J%S !N& P!LS"#N (S the 1alfour 2eclaration originated in the 3ar 3ar Ca+inet$ was consummated in the ,oreign *ffice and is +eing implemented in the Colonial *ffice$ and as some of those responsi+le for it ha/e passed away or ha/e ha/e retire retired d since since its migrat migration ionss from from 2epartm 2epartment ent to 2epartm 2epartment ent$$ there there is necessa necessarily rily some some confus confusion ion or misunde misunderst rstand anding ing as to its raison raison d4 etre etre and importanc importancee to the partie partiess prima primarily rily concerned. )t would$ therefore$ seem opportune to recapitulate +riefly the circumstances$ the inner  history and incidents that e/entually led to the 1ritish 5andate for 6alestine. Those who assisted at the +irth of the 1alfour 2eclaration were few in num+er. This makes it important to +ring into proper relief the ser/ices of one who$ owing a+o/e all to his own modesty$ has hitherto remained in the +ackground. His ser/ices howe/er should take their proper place in the front rank alongside of those Englishmen of /ision whose ser/ices are more widely known$ including the late Sir 5ark Sykes$ the 7t. Hon. 3. *rms+y 8ore$ The 7t. Hon. Sir 7onald 8raham$ 8eneral Sir  8eorge 5acdonagh and 5r. 8. H. ,it9maurice.

)n the early years of the 3ar great efforts were made +y the Zionist eaders$ 2r. 3ei9mann and 5r. Sokolow$ chiefly through the late 5r. C.6. Scott of the 5anchester 8uardian$ and Sir Her+ert Samuel$ to induce the Ca+inet to espouse the cause of Zionism. These efforts were$ howe/er$ without a/ail. )n fact$ Sir Her+ert Samuel has pu+licly stated that he +ad no share in the initiation of the negotiations which led to the 1alfour 2eclaration. ! The actual initiator  was 5r. James (. 5a!colm and the following is a +rief account of the circumstances in which the negotiations took place. 2uring the critical days of !"!: and of the impending defection of 7ussia$ Jewry$ as a whole$ was against the C9arist regime and had hopes that 8ermany$ if /ictorious$ would in certain circumstances gi/e them 6alestine. Se/eral attempts to +ring (merica into the 3ar on the side of the (llies +y influencing influential Jewish opinion were made and had failed. 5r. James (. 5alcolm$ who was already aware of 8erman pre-war efforts to secure a foothold in 6alestine through the Zionist Jews and of the a+orti/e (nglo-,rench d;marches at 3ashington and 0ew 5r. Justice 1randeis$ of the U.S. Supreme Court? = and was in close touch with 5r. 8reen+erg$ Editor of the Jewish Chronicle >ondon? = and knew that se/eral important Zionist Jewish leaders had already gra/itated to ondon from the Continent on the @ui /i/e awaiting e/en e/ents ts = and and appr apprec ecia iate ted d and and reali realised sed the dept depth h and and stren strengt gth h of Jewis Jewish h natio nationa nall aspi aspira ratio tions ns== spontaneously took the initiati/e$ to con/ince first of all Sir 5ark Sykes$ Under Secretary to the 3ar  Ca+inet$and afterwards 5onsieur 8eorges 6icot$ of the ,rench Em+assy in ondon$ and 5onsieur  8oAt of the Buai d4*rsay >Eastern Section?$ that the +est and perhaps the only way >which pro/ed so. to +e? to induce the (merican 6resident to come into the 3ar 3ar was to secure the co-operation of Zionist Jews +y promising them 6alestine$ and thus enlist and mo+ilise the hitherto unsuspectedly powerful forces of Zionist Jews in (merica and elsewhere in fa/our of the (llies on a @uid pro @uo contract  +asis. Thus$ as will +e seen$ the Zionists$ ha/ing carried out their part$ and greatly helped to +ring (merica in$ the 1alfour 2eclaration of !"! was +ut the pu+lic confirmation of the necessarily secret % gentleman4s % agreement of !"!: made with the pre/ious knowledge$ ac@uiescence andor appro/al of 

the (ra+s and of the 1ritish$ (merican$ ,rench and other (llied 8o/ernments$ and not merely a /oluntary altruistic and romantic gesture on the part of 8reat 1ritain as certain people either through  pardona+le ignorance assume or or unpardona+le ill will would represent or rather rather misrepresent. Sir 5ark Sykes was Under-Secretary to the 3ar Ca+inet specially concerned with 0ear Eastern affairs$ and$ although at the time scarcely ac@uainted with the Zionist mo/ement$ and unaware of the eDistence of its leaders$ he had the flair to respond to the arguments ad/anced +y 5r. 5alcolm as to the strength and importance of this mo/ement in Jewry$ in spite of the fact that many wealthy and  prominent international or semi-assimilated Jews in Europe and (merica were openly or tacitly opposed to it >Zionist mo/ement?$ or timidly indifferent. 55. 6icot and 8oAt were likewise recepti/e. (n inte intere rest stin ing g acco accoun untt of the the nego negotia tiati tion onss carr carrie ied d on in ond ondon on and and 6ari 6aris$ s$ and and su+s su+se@ e@ue uent nt de/elopments$ has already appeared in the Jewish press and need not +e repeated here in detail$ eDcept to recall that immediately immediately after the% gentleman4s% gentleman4s% agreement +etween Sir 5ark Sykes$ authorised +y the 3ar Ca+inet$ and the Zionist leaders$ ca+le facilities through the 3ar *ffice$ the ,oreign *ffice and 1ritish Em+assies$ egations$ etc.$ were gi/en to the latter to communicate the glad tidings to their  friends and organisations in (merica and elsewhere$ and the change in official and pu+lic opinion as reflected in the (merican press in fa/our of oining the (llies in the 3ar$ was as gratifying as it was surprisingly rapid. . The 1alfour 2eclaration$ in the words of 6rofessor H. 5. F. Temperley$ # was %a definite contract  +etween the 1ritish 8o/ernment and Jewry.% Jewry.% The main consideration gi/en +y the Jewish people >represented at the time +y the leaders of the Zionist *rganisation? was their help in +ringing 6resident 3ilson to the aid of the (llies. 5oreo/er$ officially interpreted at the time +y ord 7o+ert Cecil as %Judea for the Jews% in the same sense as %(ra+ia for the (ra+s=% the 2eclaration sent a thrill throughout throughout the world. world. The prior Sykes-6icot Sykes-6icot Treaty Treaty of !"!:$ according according to which 0orthern 0orthern 6alestine 6alestine was to +e politically detached and included in Syria >,rench sphere?$ was su+se@uently$ at the instance of the Zionist leaders$ amended & so that the Jewish 0ational Home should comprise the whole of 

6alestine in accordance with the promise pre/iously made to them for their ser/ices +y the 1ritish$ (llied and (merican 8o/ernments and to gi/e full effect to the 1alfour 2eclaration$ the terms of  which had +een settled and known to all (llied and associated associated +elligeren +elligerents$ ts$ including (ra+s$ (ra+s$ +efore +efore they were made pu+lic. )n 8ermany$ the /alue of the +argain to the (llies$ apparently$ was duly and carefully noted. )n his %Through Thirty !#?$ then more c!early +y the ,ounder of Zionism - Theodor Her9! - in his %Jewish State$% in !":$ and finally after the 3ar +y the Zionist !eaders at the 6eace Conference$ ha/e appeared to fade and in their stead they see the sad spectre of another Jewish minority settlement in 6alestine. )t is not that they eDpected a fully e@uipped Jewish State to ha/e +een achie/ed already. 3hat they cannot forgi/e howe/er is the acceptance$ acceptance$ e/en though though o+/iously o+/iously under moral duress$ duress$ +y their leaders of the position in which e/en the distant prospect of complete national regeneration in a  0ational home seems to ha/e faded out. )t was mainly for the acceptance of this situation that Sir 

(lfred 5ond >afterwards ord 5elchett? resigned from the Jewish (gency and that 2r. 3ei9mann failed to o+tain re-election as 6resident of the Zionist *rganisation in !"&! and !"&&$ in spire of his signal ser/ices to the mo/ement for twenty years or more. (nd to-day among the Jewish masses in 6oland 6oland$$ hundre hundreds ds of thousa thousands nds feel feel so profou profoundly ndly that they ha/e +een +een decei/ decei/ed ed +y the Zionis Zionistt *rganisation and its present leaders that they ha/e decided to oin the 0ew Zionist *rganisation. !&$III Zionists went to the poll and elected delegates for the Congress held in Fienna$ in Septem+er$ !"&$ for this purpose= and the num+ers of acti/e supporters are swelling daily= whereas the /oters >including plural /oters? represented at the Congress of the old Zionist *rganisation at ucerne in (ugust$ !"&$ were :&#$III. (nother factor which has gi/en rise to profound misgi/ings amongst the Jewish masses is the growth of left wing Socialism in 6alestine$ with the spread of eDtreme doctrines. The +lame for this is laid in the first instance at the door of the responsi+le leaders of the Zionist *rganisation. " Since the end of  the war they ha/e permitted or fostered$ +y means of li+eral su+sidies from Zionist funds$ the growth of the 6oale 6oale Zion$ Zion$ until until it de/elo de/eloped ped se/era se/erall most most unplea unpleasan santt hypertr hypertroph ophic ic featur features es of which which 2ictatorship of !a+our$ class war$ and fre@uent strikes are the most o+/ious. The predominance of  6oale Zion leaders in the present EDecuti/e of the Zionist *rganisation has undermined the confidence of the Jewish masses - who are far more 0ationalist than Socialist at heart. The rise -of Hitler to power in 8ermany$ with its ruthless forms of anti-Semitism$ has dri/en home the Zionism of Her9l and gi/en a tremendous impetus to Jewish national feeling all o/er the world. ( few years ago$ the /iew$ adopted +y Sir Her+ert Samue! in !"#!$ that a smallish Jewish model settlement in 6alestine li/ing on healthy national lines would pro/ide spiritual sustenance for the /ast maority of  Jewry outside 6alestine still had a good few adherents$ +ut to-day$ 8erman anti-Semitism and its repercussions in other lands$ has all +ut gi/en this doctrine its coup de grace. E/ery Jew now sees c!early that without a physical and political as well as a spiritual centre$ Jewry stands /ery little chance of sur/i/al. This con/iction has spread much more rapidly than certain Zionist leaders$ who ha/e lost touch with the masses$ realise. The Jewish land hunger has grown immeasura+ly and the

Jewish masses feel that 6alestine without Transordan is far too small for the urgent and imperati/e need of Jewish emigration. emigration. Transorda Transordan n was originally part of the mandated territory territory of 6alestine 6alestine to which the Jewish 0ational Home applied. Hence one of the other main points in the platform of the new Zionist *rganisation is the opening of Transordan to Jewish immigration. (nother factor which has estranged the masses of Jewry from the old Zionist *rganisation is its attitude to the Jewish 7eligion. !I The old Zionist *rganisation dec!ares that 7eligion is a pri/ate affair of the indi/idual. The masses of Jewry howe/er instincti/ely feel that this attitude does less than  ustice to the ideals of social ustice contained in the 1i+le and the 6rophets and crystallised in Jewis h tradition through the many centuries. This precious heritage they feel should not +e thrown away. 3as 3as it not their religion which through the ages has +een the source of their in/inci+le fortitude and  preser/ed them as a 0ationK 5oreo/er$ realising that no ci/ilis ation is possi+le without an esta+lished form of religion$ they ha/e rallied round the 0ew Zionist *rganisation which does ustice to the Jewish tradition. The 0ew Zionist *rganisation has a+sor+ed the Zionist 7e/isionists. This party was founded in !"#  +y Fladimir Ja+otinsky to resist the tendencies towards defeatism and decay$ to keep ali/e the Her9lia Her9lian n tradit tradition ion and to resist resist the growin growing g dictat dictators orship hip and arroga arrogance nce of the 6alesti 6alestine ne a+ou a+our  r  Zionists. The party grew rapidly$ and +y !"&& at the Zionist Congress in 6rague$ it was already second in si9e of the parties within the organisation. The eader of the 7e/isionists has naturally +ecome the 6resident of the 0ew Zionist *rganisation. This choice indicates recognition +y the masses of Jewry that the pressing need of the time is to strengthen the moral and political foundations of the mo/ement. 1orn in 7ussia a+out fifty-fi/e years ago$ Ja+otinsky threw himself from early youth into the Zionist mo/ement. (lmost (lmost alone in 7ussia in !"!$ he ad/ocated Jewish support for the (llied Cause >in spite of the terri+ly unust treatment of the Jews +y the 7ussians?$ +ecause he saw in an (llied Fictory the hope of a Jewish 6alestine. He concei/ed the idea of a Jewish egion to fight for 6alestine on the side of the (llies and carried it through in the teeth of the strongest opposition$ including that of many of  his own friends. !! Had it not +een for this opposition it is practically certain that he would ha/e rallied

a large army of Jewish soldiers to lead the capture of 6alestine and would ha/e +een the Jewish 8ari+aldi. He was in 6alestine attached to the Jewish +attalion under ord (llen+y and was soon recognised +y the 1ritish authorities as a fearless Jewish leader and defender of Jewish rights. He resisted the authorities in 6alestine during the (ra+ attacks on Jews in !"#I$ was sentenced to fifteen years4 imprisonment in the historie fortress of (cre$ +ut was set free after a few months. This episode in his career has naturally endeared him to the masses of Jewry$ and the prohi+ition of his re-entry into 6alestine has had a similar stimulating effect. 3hat are the prospects of the 0ew Zionist *rganisationK The +reak-up of the Zionist Centre party Conference at Cracow in !"& indicates clearly what was already e/ident to the clear-sighted$ /i9.$ that there are only two parties to the struggle in Zionism - the Socialist eft and the 7e/isionist 7ight. The eft is now suffering for some of the sins committed during the last ten years under the influence of the heady wine of power and office. (lmost e/ery recent Jewish /isitor to 6alestine has returned thoroughly disappointed with the regime of the eft. ( sound Jewish instinct tells them that ad/anced Socialism or Communism - whate/er its ad/antages in the remoter future - is entirely unsuita+le for a nascent Jewish 0ational Home. The 0ew Zionists emphasise the great traditions of England - fair play$ recognition of the principle of nationality$ free +ut orderly democracy$ and especially respect for those who stand up for their rights. The 0ew Zionist *rganisation is pro-1ritish to the core. )t is the rallying centre of Jewry in its crisis. )t has the Jewish youth on its side$ enrolled in su+sidiary organisations such as the 1etar$ named after Captain Trumpeldo Trumpeldor$ r$ a Jewish hero$ who died fighting in 6alestine 6alestine in !"!". compa >comparat rati/e! i/e!y y /ery few in num+er num+er?? are most anDiou anDiouss to sell sell their their surplu surpluss and unculti/ated lands to Jewish immigrants at /ery much lower prices than the 6alestine (ra+ proprietors are in the circumstances demanding and o+taining to-day for theirs. The 1ritish Empire can afford to wait or hasten slowly= +ut it will +e conceded that in their tragic  plight the choice +efore Jewry is either speedily to re+uild 6alestine or slowly to perish in the 2iaspora. The words of the traditional Jewish toast - % 0eDt year in Jerusalem% >eshana Ha+aa 1irushalayim? - are therefore no longer con/entional words$ +ut inspiriting and instinct with meaning and action and must assuredly appeal to the sense of humanity humanit y and fair play of the 1ritish 8o/ernment and people.

!. Englan England d and 6alestin 6alestine$% e$% lecture lecture deli/er deli/ered ed +y Sir Her+ert Her+ert Samuel$ Samuel$ pu+lish pu+lished ed +y the Jewish Jewish Historical Society Societ y$ ondon >,e+ruary$ !"&:?. #. History of the the 6eace Conference Conference in 6aris$ 6aris$ !"#I$ !"#I$ /olume /olume :$ :$ page !&. !&. &. ,ranco-1ri ,ranco-1ritish tish Con/ention Con/ention$$ 2ecem+ 2ecem+er er !"#I !"#I >Cmd. >Cmd. ))"S?. ))"S?.

'. Folume lume #$ page page &"#. &"#. . These are the the actual actual words of the 5andate 5andate for 6alestin 6alestinee - see (pp. (pp. )) :. The 5ancheste 5anchesterr 8uardian 8uardian may +e @uoted @uoted as typical typical of the interpret interpretation ation placed placed on the 1alfour  1alfour  2ec!aration. )n a leading artic!e of the )oth 0o/em+er$ )")$ it wrote as follows G % 3hat it means is that$ assuming our military successes to +e continued and the whole of 6alestine  +rought securely under our control$ then at the conc!usion of peace our deli+erate policy will  +e to encourage in e/ery way wa y in our power Jewish immigration$ to gi/e full security$ and no dou+t a large measure of local autonomy$ to the Jewish immigrants$ with a /iew to the ultimate ultimate esta+lishment esta+lishment of a Jewish State.% State.% The /iews of the leaders of 1ritish pu+lic pu+lic opinion opinion were collected and pu+lished as a +rochure prepared +y the 5inistry of )nformation under the title % 8reat 1ritain$ 6alestine and the Jews % in 2ecem+er$ )"). . 7eprin 7eprinted ted in full full on pp. !--#I !--#I.. . )nau )naugu gura rate ted d at a Cong Congre ress ss held held in Fienn iennaa in Sept Septem em+e +er$ r$ !"&= !"&= atte attend nded ed +y &I &I Zion Zionist ist 2elegates from &' countries$ representing !&$III /oters$which is the largest num+er of  Jewish /oters e/er recorded. ". Thus Thus it was the predom predominan inance ce of the eft at the ucerne ucerne Congre Congress ss in (ugust (ugust$$ !"&$ which which secured the election of 2r. 3ei9mann 3ei9mann as 6resident. !I. The Chief 7a++i$ 7a++i$ 2r. J. H. Hert9$ Hert9$ stated >according >according to the Jewish Telegrap Telegraphic hic (gency? (gency? at a  pu+lic meeting in ondon on the #&rd ,e+ruary$ !"&:$ that %religious teaching is +eing +lotted out in the Jewish schools. Thus$ while funds which make possi+le Zionist schools come from Jews alone$ these schools and settlements are not Jewish and still$ eDcept for the language$

lack Jewish spirit and teaching. )n fact$ in some schools$ Socialism$L not Judaism$ is the o+ect of tuition.% !!. !!. )f re@uired$ re@uired$ thousands thousands of Jews would come come forward today under under his leadership leadership to ser/e in the forces of the 5andatory 6ower.

(66E02)M ). THE 1(,*U7 1(,*U 7 2EC(7(T)*0. ,*7E)80 *,,)CE$ #nd 0o/em+er$ !"!. 2E(7 *72 7*THSCH)2$ ) ha/e much pleasure in con/eying to you on +ehalf of His 5aesty4s 8o/ernment the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations$ which has +een su+mitted to and appro/ed +y the Ca+inetG % His 5aesty4s 8o/ernment /iew with fa/our the esta+lishment in 6alestine of a national home for the Jewish people$ and will use their +est endea/ours to facilitate the achie/ement of this o+ect$ it +eing clearly understood that nothing shall +e done which may preudice the ci/il and religious rights of  eDisting non-Jewish communities in 6alestine or the rights and political status enoyed +y Jews in any other country.% ) should +e grateful if you would +ring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist ,ederation.N Signed? (7THU7 (7THU7 J(5ES 1(,*U7. (66E02)M )).

EDtract from 6ream+le to$ and Specific (rticles of$ the 6alestine 5andate referring to the Jewish  0ational Home. 3hereas the 6rincipal (llied 6owers ha/e also agreed that the 5andatory should +e responsi+le for   putting info effect the declaration originally made on 0o/em+er #nd$ !"!$ +y the 8o/ernment of His 1ritannic 5aesty$ and adopted +y the said 6owers$ in fa/our of the esta+lishment in 6alestine of a national home for the Jewish people$ it +eing clearly understood that nothing should +e done which might preudice the ci/il and religious rights of eDisting non-Jewish communities in 6alestine$ or the rights and political status enoyed +y Jews in an y other country= and 3hereas recognition has there+y +een gi/en to the historical connection of the Jewish people with 6alestineand to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country. #. The 5andatory shall +e responsi+le for placing the country under such political$ administrati/e and economic conditions as will secure the esta+lishment of the Jewish national home$ as laid down in the  pream+le$ O and the de/elopment of self-go/erning institutions$ and also for safeguarding the ci/il and religious rights of all the inha+itants of 6alestine$ irrespecti/e of race and religion . '. (n appropriate Jewish agency shall +e recognised as a pu+lic +ody for the purpose of ad/ising and co-operating with the (dministration of 6alestine in such economic$ social and other matters - as may affect the esta+lishment of the Jewish national home and the interests of the Jewish population in 6alestine$ and$ su+ect always to the control of the (dministration$ to assist and take part in the de/elopment of the country. country. The Zionist Zionist organi organisat sation ion$$ so lang lang as its organi organisati sation on and constitu constitution tion are in the opinion opinion of the 5andatory appropriate$ shall +e recognised as such agency. )t shall take steps in consultation with His 1ritannic 5aesty4s 8o/ernment to secure the co-operation of all Jews who are willing to assist in the esta+lishment of the Jewish national home.

:. The (dministration of 6alestine$ while ensuring that the rights and position of other sections of the  population are not preudiced$ shall facilitate Jewish immigration under suita+le conditions and shall s hall encourage$ in co-operation with the Jewish agency referred to in (rtide '$ close settlement +y Jews on the land$ induding State lands and waste lands not re@uired for pu+lic purposes. . The (dministration of 6alestine shall +e responsi+le for enacting a nationality law. There shall +e included in this law pro/isions framed so as to facilitate the ac@uisition of 6alestinian citi9enship +y Jews who take up their permanent residence in 6alestine. !!. The (dministration of 6alestine shall take all necessary measures to safeguard the interests of the community in connection with the de/elopment of the country$ and$ su+ect to any international o+ligations accepted +y the 5andatory$ shall ha/e full power to pro/ide for pu+lic ownership or  control of any of the natural resources of the country or of the pu+lic works$ ser/ices and utilities esta+lished or to +e esta+lished therein. )t shall introduce a land system appropriate to the needs of the country$ ha/ing regard$ among other things$ to the desira+ility of promoting the close settlement and intensi/e culti/ation of the land. The (dministration may arrange with the Jewish agency mentioned in (rticle ' to construct or  operate$ upon fair and e@uita+le terms$ any pu+lic works$ ser/ices and utilities$ and to de/e!op any of  the natural resources of the country$ in so far as these matters are not directly undertaken +y the (dministration. (ny such arrangements shall pro/ide that no profits distri+uted +y such agency$ directly or indirectly$ shall eDceed a reasona+le rate of interest on the capital$ and any further profits shall +e utilised + y it for the +enefit of the country in a manner appro/ed +y the (dministration. ##. ##. English English$$ (ra+i (ra+icc and He+rew He+rew shall shall +e the officia officiall langua languages ges of 6alesti 6alestine. ne. (ny stateme statement nt or  inscription in (ra+ic on stamps or money in 6alestine shall +e repeated in He+rew$ and any statement or inscription in He+rew shall +e repeated in (ra+ic .

#&. The (dministration of 6alestine shall recognise the holy days of the respecti/e communities in 6alestine as legal days of rest for the mem+ers of such communities. O This phrase rules out any interpretation of % Jewish 0ational Home P other than as laid down in the 6ream+le$ which speaks of % reconstituting their national home.% (66E02)M ))) The following letter from Colonel J. C. 3edgwood$ 5.6.$ 5.6.$ appeared in the % Times$% of ,rida y$ January &rd$ !"&:. S)7$- The plan of the egislati/e Council for 6alestine has +een announced in Jerusalem. There is time to criticise the proposals +efore any enactment is made +y *rders in Council. )f this start towards home rule is not to +e made on dangerous lines that criticism should come now. The o+ections of the Jews Jews and their determ determina inatio tion n to +oycott +oycott the counci councill may de!ay the scheme scheme.. )t is the proposals proposals themsel/es on which ) would comment$ and from the 1ritish point of /iew. ,irst$ one might udge from Egypt that it is a mistake$ especially ust now$ to gi/e the impression that one yields to threats of /iolence. The results of the !"#& Constitution in Egypt are so manifest that one need not la+our the point. The conneDion +etween Egypt and 6alestine is so close= the regrets for the Constitution granted to )ra@ are so keen. Surrender to +luff is not at the moment popular. Then the proposed machinery gi/es the impression of ha/ing +een de/ised without sufficient regard to  practice and eDperience elsewhere in the Empire. 0o one who knows community representation in )ndia appro/es of that method of election= it lea/es minorities helpless and encourages racial and religious +itterness. 3hy impose it on 6alestine$ where all are agreed that the /ital issue is to get Jew and (ra+ to +e more friendlyK The essence of the English system s ystem is that the 5.6. represents represents all sorts$ and is as anDious to please those who might$ as he is to please those who do$ /ote for him. The recent crisis is proof thereof$ so anDious

were we all to get the li+eral /ote at the neDt election - so eager to respond to the protests of our  correspondents. This$ as 5r. 1aldwin has pointed out$ is democracy = and it only works well +ecause$ with a common electoral roll$ we ha/e to see the other fellow4s point of /iew. 3ith these community rolls$ election depends on +eating the community drum$ and the most /igorous denunciation of the other communities. The position position of a statut statutory ory minori minority ty$$ which which can ne/er hope hope for posts$ preferme preferment$ nt$ or power power$$ is  particularly unfair and @uite un-English. 6ro+a+ly Jews o+ect to this o+/ious result more than to community representation itself= for it is only the Jews of England and (merica who understand the /irtues of the common electoral roll and the /ices of community isolation. 3e ha/e seen from )ndia that once community representation is started$ re/ersion to the unifying English system +ecomes impossi+le. )n enya there is an official maority on the council to preser/e the control +y the Colonial *ffice and  +y 6arliament. )n 6alestine there is to +e no official official maority. )nstead we are to rely on the +alancing of  the ri/al communities - so many 5oslems$ Christians$ Jews$ officials$ possi+ly 8ermans. This is %di/ide and rule %-a %rule% which leads to more inefficiency and eDasperation than any other. 3e had  ust that % rule % in Cyprus= for I years we ruled on the 8o/ernor4s casting /ote= and it only ended when the Christians stormed 8o/ernment House and the Constitution went up in the flames. 5any other @uestions arise$ such as control o/er the purse$ o/er education$ o/er police$ o/er pu+lic works$ o/er loans$ o/er municipalities. These are not matters which sol/e themsel/es on the march$ and we ha/e had much eDperience in Colonies +oth less and more ci/ili9ed than is 6alestine. 5alta$ 8uiana$ 0ewfoundland$ Ceylon pro/ide precious e/idence on the difficulties that will arise.3ould it not +e wise to use the time +efore the 6alestine Constitution starts to ha/e on all these matters the mature consideration of a committee$ which need ne/er /isir 6alestineK The practical eDperience of the 1ritish Empire is worth taking into account$ worth a little delay$ and no reflection upon the necessarily limited eDperience of those who ha/e framed these proposals.

) am$ Sir$ yours$ Qc.$ J*S)(H C. 3E283**2. Committee on History of 6arliament$ )$ Bueen (nne4s (nne4s 8ate 1uildings$ 2artmouth Street$ S.3.). S.3.). httpGdesip.igc.org!"&"sandman.htm