Appendix F - Israel’s Government Position
Yehuda Z. Blum, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations. At the Louis D. Brandeis Award Dinner of the Zionist Organization of America. (Washington D.C., 11 June 1979)67
“A corollary of the inalienable right of the Jewish people to its Land is the right to live in any part of The Land of Israel aka Eretz Yisrael aka Palestine, including Judea and Samaria which are an integral part of Eretz Yisrael aka Palestine. Jews are not foreigners anywhere in the Land of Israel aka Palestine. Anyone who asserts that it is illegal for a Jew to live in Judea and Samaria just because he is a Jew, is in fact advocating a concept that is disturbingly reminiscent of the ‘Judenrein’ policies of Nazi Germany banning Jews from certain spheres of life for no other reason than that they were Jews. The Jewish villages in Judea, Samaria and the Gaza district are there as of right and are there to stay for eternity.
“The right of Jews to settle in the Land of Israel was also recognized in the League of Nations ‘Mandate for Palestine’ which stressed ‘the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and … the grounds for reconstituting’ - I repeat, reconstituting ‘their national home in that country.’
“The Mandatory Power was also entrusted with the duty to encourage ‘close settlement by Jews on the land, including state lands and waste lands not required for public purposes.’”
SAN REMO
CONFERENCE April 1920
Downing Street ,
3rd June, 1922 .
18th June, 1922 .
“A corollary of
the inalienable right of the Jewish people to its Land is the right to live in
any part of The Land of Israel aka Eretz Yisrael aka Palestine Judea and Samaria Palestine Land of Israel Palestine Judea , Samaria Gaza
“The right of Jews to settle in the Land of Israel aka Palestine was also recognized in the 1920 San Remo conference implemented by the League of Nations ‘Mandate for Palestine’ which stressed the legal language of the law ‘the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and … the grounds for reconstituting’ - I repeat, reconstituting ‘their historical national home in that country (The Land of Israel aka Palestine).’**
“The Mandatory Power was also entrusted with the duty and responsibility to encourage and promote ‘close settlement by Jews on the land known as Palestine aka The Land of Israel, including state lands and waste lands not required for public purposes.’” That would bring about a permanent National Home for The Jewish People with its own government. The British violated their duty and responsibility and in the 1930’s through 1948 restricted Jewish immigration intoPalestine Israel Israel Palestine Palestine
“The right of Jews to settle in the Land of Israel aka Palestine was also recognized in the 1920 San Remo conference implemented by the League of Nations ‘Mandate for Palestine’ which stressed the legal language of the law ‘the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and … the grounds for reconstituting’ - I repeat, reconstituting ‘their historical national home in that country (The Land of Israel aka Palestine).’**
“The Mandatory Power was also entrusted with the duty and responsibility to encourage and promote ‘close settlement by Jews on the land known as Palestine aka The Land of Israel, including state lands and waste lands not required for public purposes.’” That would bring about a permanent National Home for The Jewish People with its own government. The British violated their duty and responsibility and in the 1930’s through 1948 restricted Jewish immigration into
** Whereas the Principal Allied Powers have agreed, for the purpose of giving
effect to the provisions of Article 22 of the Covenant of the League of
Nations, to entrust to a Mandatory selected by the said Powers the
administration of the territory of Palestine, which formerly belonged to the
Turkish Empire; and
Whereas the Principal
Allied Powers have also agreed that the Mandatory should be responsible for
putting into effect the Balfour Declaration made on November 2nd,
1917, by the Government of His Britannic Majesty, and adopted by the said
Powers, in favor of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the
Jewish people, it being clearly understood that nothing should be done which
might prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish
communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in
any other country; and
Whereas recognition has
thereby been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine
Whereas the Principal
Allied Powers have selected His Britannic Majesty as the Mandatory for Palestine
Whereas the mandate in
respect of Palestine
Whereas His Britannic
Majesty has accepted the mandate in respect of Palestine League of Nations .
The High Contracting Parties agree to entrust, by
application of the provisions of Article 22, the administration of Palestine ,
within such boundaries as may be determined by the principal Allied Powers, to
a Mandatory to be selected by the said Powers. The Mandatory will be
responsible for putting into effect the declaration originally made on November
2, 1917, by the British Government, and adopted by the other Allied Powers, in favor
of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it
being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the
civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or
the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country. It was also
decided at San Remo that the
Mandate for the government of Palestine
should be entrusted to Great Britain .
T
THE PALESTINE
MANDATE
THE COUNCIL OF THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
WHEREAS by Article 132 of the Treaty of Peace signed at
Sevres on the tenth day of August 1920, Turkey renounced in favor of the
Principal Allied Powers all rights and title over Palestine; and
WHEREAS by Article 95 of the said treaty the High
Contracting Parties agreed to entrust, by application of the provisions of
Article 22, the Administration of Palestine, within such boundaries as might be
determined by the Principal Allied Powers, to a Mandatory to be selected by the
said Powers; and
WHEREAS by the same article the High Contracting Parties
further agreed that the Mandatory should be responsible for putting into effect
the declaration originally made on November 2, 1917, by the Government of His
Britannic Majesty, and adopted by the other Allied Powers, in favor of the
establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, it being
clearly understood that nothing should be done which might prejudice the civil
and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the
rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country; and
WHEREAS recognition has thereby been given to the historical
connection of the Jewish people with Palestine
and to the grounds for reconstituting their National Home in that country; and
WHEREAS the Principal Allied Powers have selected His
Britannic Majesty as the Mandatory for Palestine ;
and
WHEREAS the terms of the Mandate in respect of Palestine
have been formulated in the following terms and submitted to the Council of the
League for approval; and
WHEREAS His Britannic Majesty has accepted the Mandate in respect
of Palestine and undertaken to
exercise it on behalf of the League of Nations in
conformity with the following provisions; Hereby approves the terms of the said
Mandate as follows:
Article 1—His Britannic Majesty shall have the right to
exercise as Mandatory full powers of legislation and administration, inherent
in the Government of a Sovereign State
Article 2—The Mandatory shall be responsible for placing the
country under such political, administrative and economic conditions as will
secure the establishment of the Jewish national home, as laid down in the
preamble and the development of self-governing institutions, and also for
safeguarding the civil and religious rights of all the inhabitants of
Palestine, irrespective of race and religion.
Article 3—The Mandatory shall so far as circumstances permit
encourage local autonomy.
Article 4—An appropriate Jewish agency shall be recognized
as a public body for the purpose of advising and cooperating with the
Administration of Palestine in such economic, social and other matters as may
affect the establishment of the Jewish national home and the interests of the
Jewish population in Palestine, and, subject always to the control of the Administration,
to assist and take part in the development of the country.
The Zionist Organization, so long as its organization and
constitution are in the opinion of the Mandatory appropriate, shall be
recognized as such agency. It shall take steps in consultation with His
Britannic Majesty's Government to secure the cooperation of all Jews who are
willing to assist in the establishment of the Jewish national home.
Article 5—The Mandatory shall be responsible for seeing that
no Palestine territory shall be
ceded or leased to, or in any way placed under the control of the Government of
any foreign Power.
Article 6—The Administration of Palestine, while ensuring
that the rights and position of other sections of the population are not
prejudiced, shall facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions and
shall encourage in cooperation with the Jewish agency referred to in Article 4
close settlement by Jews on the land, including State lands and waste lands not
required for public purposes.
Article 7—1 The Administration of Palestine will be
responsible for enacting a nationality law. There shall be included in this law
provisions framed so as to facilitate the acquisition of Palestinian
citizenship by Jews who take up their permanent residence in Palestine .
Article 8—The immunities and privileges of foreigners,
including the benefits of consular jurisdiction and protection as formerly
enjoyed by Capitulation or usage in the Ottoman Empire, are suspended in
Palestine, but shall be revived immediately and completely upon the termination
of the mandate regime, unless the Powers whose nationals were entitled on the
1st August, 1914, to such rights should agree, or have agreed by treaty to
their suspension or modification.
Article 9—The Mandatory shall be responsible for seeing that
the judicial system established in Palestine shall safeguard (a) the interests
of foreigners; (b) the law, and (to the extent deemed expedient) the
jurisdiction now existing in Palestine with regard to questions arising out of
the religious beliefs of certain communities (such as the laws of Wakf and
personal status). In particular the Mandatory agrees that the control and
administration of Wakf’s shall be exercised in accordance with religious law
and the dispositions of the founders.
Article 10—Pending the making of special extradition
agreements relating to Palestine ,
the extradition treaties in force between the Mandatory and other foreign
Powers shall apply to Palestine .
Article 11—The Administration of Palestine shall take all necessary
measures to safeguard the interests of the community in connection with the
development of the country and, subject to Article 811 of the Treaty of Peace
with Turkey, shall have full power to provide for public ownership or control
of any of the natural resources of the country or of the public works, services
and utilities established or to be established therein. It shall introduce a
land system appropriate to the needs of the country, having regard, among other
things, to the desirability of promoting the close settlement and intensive
cultivation of the land.
The Administration may arrange with the Jewish agency
mentioned in Article 4 to construct or operate, upon fair and equitable terms,
any public works, services and utilities, and to develop any of the natural
resources of the country, in so far as these matters !are not directly
undertaken by the Administration. Any such arrangements shall provide that no
profits distributed by such agency, directly or indirectly, shall exceed a reasonable
rate of interest on the capital, and any further profits shall be utilized by
it for the benefit of the country in a manner approved by the Administration.
Article 12—The Mandatory shall be entrusted with the control
of the foreign relations of Palestine ,
and the right to issue exequaturs to consuls appointed by foreign Powers. He
shall also be entitled to afford diplomatic and consular protection to citizens
of Palestine when outside of its
territorial limits.
Article 13—All responsibility in connection with the Holy
Places and religious buildings or sites in Palestine, including that of
preserving existing rights, of securing free access to the Holy Places,
religious buildings and sites and the free exercise of worship while ensuring
the requirements of public order and decorum, is assumed by the Mandatory, who
will be responsible solely to the League of Nations in all matters therewith;
provided that nothing in this article shall prevent the Mandatory from entering
into such arrangement as he may deem reasonable with the Administration for the
purpose of carrying the provisions of this article into effect; and provided
also that nothing in this Mandate shall be construed as conferring upon the
Mandatory authority to interfere with the fabric or the management of purely
Muslim sacred shrines, the immunities of which are guaranteed.
Article 14—A special Commission shall be appointed by the
Mandatory to study and define the rights and claims in connection with the Holy
Places, and the rights and claims relating to the different religious
communities in Palestine . The
method of the nomination, composition and functions of this Commission shall be
submitted to the Council of the League of Nations for approval, and the
Commission shall not be appointed or enter into its functions without the
approval of the Council of the League of Nations.
Article 15—The Mandatory will see that complete freedom of
conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship, subject only to the
maintenance of public order and morals, is ensured to all. No discrimination of
any kind shall be made between the inhabitants of Palestine
on the ground of race, religion or language. No person shall be excluded from Palestine
on the sole ground of his religious belief.
The right of each community to maintain its own schools for
the education of its own members in its own language (while conforming to such
educational requirements of a general nature as the Administration may impose)
shall not be denied or impaired.
Article 16—The Mandatory shall be responsible for exercising
such supervision over religious or eleemosynary bodies of all faiths in
Palestine as may be required for the maintenance of public order and good
government. Subject to such supervision, no measures shall be taken in Palestine
to obstruct or interfere with the enterprise of such bodies or to discriminate
against any representative or member of them on the ground of his religion or
nationality.
Article 17—The Administration of Palestine may organize on a
voluntary basis the forces necessary for the preservation of peace and order,
and also for the defense of the country, subject, however, to the supervision
of the Mandatory, but shall not use them for purposes other than those above
specified save with the consent of the Mandatory. Except for such purposes, no
military, naval or air forces shall be raised or maintained by the
Administration of Palestine.
Nothing in this article shall preclude the Administration of
Palestine from contributing to the cost of the maintenance of forces maintained
by the Mandatory.
The Mandatory shall be entitled at all times to use the
roads, railways and ports of Palestine
for the movement of armed forces and the carriage of fuel and supplies.
Article 18—The Mandatory must see that there is no
discrimination in Palestine against the nationals of any of the States members
of the League of Nations (including companies incorporated under their laws) as
compared with those of the Mandatory or of any foreign State in matters
concerning taxation, commerce or navigation, the exercise of industries or
professions, or in the treatment of merchant vessels or civil aircraft.
Similarly, there shall be no discrimination in Palestine
against goods originating in or destined for any of the said States, and there
shall be freedom of transit under equitable conditions across the mandated
area.
Subject as aforesaid and to the other provisions of this
Mandate, the Administration of Palestine may, on the advice of the Mandatory,
impose such taxes and customs duties as it may consider necessary, and take
such steps as it may think best to promote the development of the natural
resources of the country and to safeguard the interests of the population.
Nothing in this article shall prevent the Government of
Palestine, on the advice of the Mandatory, from concluding a special customs
agreement with any State the territory of which in 1914 was wholly included in
Asiatic Turkey or Arabia .
Article 19—The Mandatory will adhere on behalf of the Administration
to any general international conventions already existing or that may be
concluded hereafter with the approval of the League of Nations respecting the
slave traffic, the traffic in arms and ammunition, or the traffic in drugs, or
relating to commercial equality, freedom of transit and navigation, aerial
navigation and postal, telegraphic and wireless communication or literary,
artistic or industrial property.
Article 20—The Mandatory will cooperate on behalf of the
Administration of Palestine, so far as religious, social and other conditions
may permit, in the execution of any common policy adopted by the League
of Nations for preventing and combating disease, including
diseases of plants and animals.
Article 21—The Mandatory will secure, within twelve months
from the date of the coming into force of this Mandate, the enactment, and will
ensure the execution of, a law of Antiquities based on the provisions of
Article 421 of Part XIII of the Treaty of Peace with Turkey. This law shall
replace the former Ottoman Law of Antiquities, and shall ensure equality of
treatment in the matter of archaeological research to the nationals of all
members of the League of Nations .
Article 22—English, Arabic and Hebrew shall be the official
languages of Palestine . Any
statement or inscriptions in Arabic on stamps or money in Palestine
shall be repeated in Hebrew, and any statements or inscriptions in Hebrew shall
be repeated in Arabic.
Article 23—The Administration of Palestine shall recognize
the holy days of the respective communities in Palestine
as legal days of rest for the members of such communities.
Article 24—The Mandatory shall make to the Council of the League
of Nations an annual report as to the measures taken during the
year to carry out the provisions of the Mandate. •Copies of all laws and
regulations promulgated or issued during the year shall be communicated with
the report.
Article 25—In the territories lying between the Jordan and
the eastern boundary of Palestine as ultimately determined, the Mandatory shall
be entitled, with the consent of the Council of the League of Nations, to
postpone or withhold applications of such provisions of this Mandate, as he may
consider inapplicable to the existing local conditions, and to make such provision
for the administration of the territories as he may consider suitable to those
conditions, provided no action shall be taken which is inconsistent with the
provisions of Articles 15, 16 and 18.
Article 26—If any dispute whatever should arise between the
members of the League of Nations relating to the
interpretation or the application of these provisions which cannot be settled
by negotiation, this dispute shall be submitted to the Permanent Court of
International Justice provided for by Article 14 of the Covenant of the League
of Nations .
Article 27•—The consent of the Council of the League
of Nations is required for any modification of the terms of this
Mandate.
Article 28—In the event of the termination of the Mandate
conferred upon the Mandatory by this Declaration, the Council of the League of
Nations shall make such arrangements as may be deemed necessary for
safeguarding in perpetuity, under guarantee of the League, the rights secured
by Articles 18 and 14, and for securing, under the guarantee of the League,
that the Government of Palestine will fully honor the financial obligations,
legitimately incurred by the Administration of Palestine during the period of
the Mandate, including the rights of public servants to pensions or gratuities.
The present copy shall be deposited in the archives of the League
of Nations and certified copies shall be forwarded by the
Secretary General of the League of Nations to all
members of the League.
MADE AT LONDON
THE 24th DAY OF JULY, 1922.
Extracts from the
FIRST "WHITE PAPER"
of the British Government on Palestine
Issued June, 1922
No. 5
THE COLONIAL OFFICE TO THE ZIONIST ORGANISATION
SIR,
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Churchill to enclose, to be
laid before your Organization, copy of a statement which it is proposed to
publish, dealing with the policy of His Majesty's !Government in Palestine. The
statement discusses in some detail the means by which it is intended to carry
into effect the establishment of a Jewish National Home in the country. Under
Article IV of the draft Mandate submitted to the Council of the League
of Nations , a special position is assigned to your Organization
׳as an agency authorized to co-operate with His Majesty's Government in this
respect. In these circumstances it appears to Mr. Churchill essential, not only
that the declared aims and intentions of your Organization should be consistent
with the policy of His Majesty's Government, but that this identity of aim
should be made patent both to the people of Palestine and of this country, and
indeed to the world at large. Mr. Churchill feels sure that you will appreciate
this consideration and will be anxious to do all in your power to remove any
misunderstandings that may have arisen. He would accordingly be glad to receive
from you a formal assurance that your Organization accepts the policy as set
out in the enclosed statement and is prepared to conduct its own activities in
conformity therewith. I am, etc., J. E. SHUCKBURGH.
ENCLOSURE IN NO. 5 .
British Policy in Palestine .
The Secretary of State for the Colonies has given renewed
consideration to the existing political situation in Palestine ,
with a very earnest desire to arrive at a settlement of the outstanding questions
which have given rise to uncertainty and unrest among certain sections of the
population. After consultation with the High Commissioner for Palestine
the following statement has been drawn up. It summarizes the essential parts of
the correspondence that has already taken place between the Secretary of State
and a Delegation from the Muslim Christian Society of Palestine ,
which has been for some time in England ,
and it states the further conclusions which have since been reached.
The tension which has prevailed from time to time in Palestine
is. Mainly due to apprehensions, which are entertained both by sections of the
Arab and by sections of the Jewish population. These apprehensions, so far as
the Arabs are concerned, are partly based upon exaggerated interpretations of
the meaning of the Declaration favoring the establishment of a Jewish National
Home in Palestine , made on behalf
of His Majesty's Government on 2nd
November, 1917 . Unauthorized statements have been made to the
effect that the purpose in view is to create a wholly Jewish Palestine .
Phrases have been used such as that Palestine
is to become "as Jewish as England
is English." His Majesty's Government regard any such expectation as
impracticable and have no such aim in view. Nor have they at any time contemplated,
as appears to be feared by the Arab Delegation, the disappearance or the
subordination of the Arabic population, language or culture in Palestine .
They would draw attention to the fact that terms of the Declaration referred to
do not contemplate that Palestine
as a whole should be converted into a Jewish National Home, but that such a
Home should be founded in Palestine .
In this connection it has been observed with satisfaction that at the meeting
of the Zionist Congress, the supreme governing body of the Zionist Organization,
held at Carlsbad in September, 1921, a resolution was passed expressing as the
official statement of Zionist aims "the determination of the Jewish people
to live with the Arab people on terms of unity and mutual respect, and together
with them to make the common home into a flourishing community, the up building
of which may assure to each of its peoples an undisturbed national
development."
It is also necessary to point out that the Zionist
Commission in Palestine, now termed the Palestine Zionist Executive, has not
desired to possess, and does not possess, any share in the general
administration of the country. Nor does the special position assigned to the
Zionist Organization in Article IV of the Draft Mandate for Palestine
imply any such functions. That special position relates to the measures to be
taken in Palestine affecting the Jewish population, and contemplates that the Organization
may assist in the general development of the country, but does not entitle it
to share in any degree in its Government.
Further, it is contemplated that the status of all citizens
of Palestine in the eyes of the law
shall be Palestinian, and it has never been intended that they, or any section
of them, should possess any other juridical status.
So far as the Jewish populations of Palestine
are concerned, it appears that- some among them are apprehensive that His
Majesty's Government may depart from the policy embodied in the Declaration of
1917. It is necessary, therefore, once more to affirm that these fears are
unfounded, and that that Declaration, re-affirmed by the Conference of the
Principal Allied Powers at San Remo in 1920 and again in the Treaty of Sevres in 1920, is not susceptible of change.
During the last two or three generations the Jews have
created in Palestine a community,
now numbering 80,000, of whom about one fourth are farmers or workers upon the
land. This community has its own political organs; an elected assembly for the
direction of its domestic concerns; elected councils in the towns; and an organization
for the control of its schools. It has its elected Chief Rabbinate and
Rabbinical Council for the direction of its religious affairs. Its business is
conducted in Hebrew as a vernacular language, and a Hebrew press serves its
needs. It has its distinctive intellectual life and displays considerable
economic activity. This community, then, with its town and country population,
its political, religious and social organizations, its own language, its own
customs, its own life, has in fact "national" characteristics. When
it is asked what is meant by the development of the Jewish National Home in
Palestine, it may be answered that it is not the imposition of a Jewish
nationality upon the inhabitants of Palestine as a whole, but the further
development of the existing Jewish community, with the assistance of Jews in
other parts of the world, in order that it may become a center in which the
Jewish people as a whole may take, on grounds of religion and race, an interest
and a pride. But in order that this community should have the best prospect of
free development and provide a full opportunity for the Jewish people to
display its capacities, it is essential that it should know that it is in Palestine
as of right and not on sufferance. That is the reason why it is necessary that
the existence of a Jewish National Home in Palestine
should be internationally guaranteed, and that it should be formally recognized
to rest upon ancient historic connection.
This, then, is the interpretation which His Majesty's
Government place upon the Declaration of 1917, and, so understood, the
Secretary of State is of opinion that it does not contain or imply anything
which need cause either alarm to the Arab population of Palestine
or disappointment to the Jews.
For the fulfillment of this policy it is necessary that the
Jewish community in Palestine
should be able to increase its numbers by immigration. This immigration cannot
be ׳so great in volume as to exceed whatever may be the economic capacity of
the country at the time to absorb new arrivals.
It is essential to ensure that the immigrants, should not be
a burden upon the people of Palestine
as a whole, and that they should not deprive any section of the present
population of their employment. Hitherto the immigration has fulfilled these
conditions. The number of immigrants since the British occupation has been
about 25,000.
It is necessary also to ensure that persons who are
politically undesirable are excluded from Palestine ,
and every precaution has been and will be taken by the Administration to that
end.
It is intended that a special committee should be
established in Palestine ,
consisting entirely of members of the new Legislative Council elected by the
people, to confer with the Administration upon matters relating to the
regulation of immigration. Should any difference of opinion arise between this
committee and the Administration, the matter will be referred to His Majesty's
Government, who will give it special consideration. In addition, under Article
81 of the draft Palestine Order in Council, any religious community or
considerable section of the population of Palestine will have a general right
to appeal, through the High Commissioner and the Secretary of State, to the League
of Nations on any matter on which they may consider that the terms of the
Mandate are not being fulfilled by the Government of Palestine.
With reference to the Constitution which it is now intended
to establish in Palestine , the
draft of which has already been published, it is desirable to make certain
points clear. In the first place, it is not the case, as has been represented
by the Arab Delegation, that during the war His Majesty's Government gave an
undertaking that an independent national government should be at once
established in Palestine . This
representation mainly rests upon a letter dated the 24th October, 1915 , from Sir Henry McMahon, then His
Majesty's High Commissioner in Egypt ,
to the Sherif of Mecca, now King Hussein of the Kingdom of the Hejaz .
That letter is quoted as conveying the promise to the Sherif of Mecca to recognize
and support the independence of the Arabs within the territories proposed by
him. But this promise was given subject to a reservation made in the same
letter, which excluded from its scope, among other territories, the portions of
Syria lying to
the west of the district of Damascus. This reservation has always been regarded
by His Majesty's Government as covering the vilayet of Beirut
and the independent Sanjak of Jerusalem. The whole of Palestine
west of the Jordan
was thus excluded from Sir H. McMahon's pledge.
Nevertheless, it is the intention of His Majesty's
Government to foster the establishment of a full measure of self-government in Palestine .
But they are of opinion that, in the special circumstances of that country,
this should be accomplished by gradual stages and not suddenly. The first step
was taken when, on the institution of a civil Administration, the nominated
Advisory Council, which now exists, was established. It was stated at the time
by the High Commissioner that this was the first step in the development of
self-governing institutions, and it is now proposed to take a second step by
the establishment of a Legislative Council containing a large proportion of
members elected on a wide franchise. It was proposed in the published draft
that three of the members of this Council should be non-official persons
nominated by the High Commissioner, but representations having been made in
opposition to this provision, based on cogent considerations, the Secretary of
State is prepared to omit it. The Legislative Council would then consist of the
High Commissioner as President and twelve elected and ten official members. The
Secretary of State is of opinion that before a further measure of
self-government is extended to Palestine
and the Assembly placed in control over the Executive, it would be wise to
allow some time to elapse. During this period the institutions of the country
will have become well established; its financial credit will be based on firm
foundations, and the Palestinian officials will have been enabled to gain
experience of sound methods of government. After a few years the situation will
be again reviewed, and if the experience of the working of the constitution now
to be established so warranted, ,a larger share of authority would then be
extended to the elected representatives of the people.
The Secretary of State would point out that already the
present Administration !has transferred to a Supreme Council elected by the
Muslim community of Palestine the entire control of Muslim religious endowments
(Wakf’s), and of the Muslim religious Courts. To this Council the
Administration has also voluntarily restored considerable revenues derived from
ancient endowments which had been sequestrated by the Turkish Government. The
Education Department is also advised by a committee representative of all
sections of the population, and the Department of Commerce and Industry has the
benefit of the co-operation of the Chambers of Commerce which have been
established in the principal centers. It is the intention of the Administration
to associate in an increased degree similar representative committees with the
various Departments of the Government.
The Secretary of State believes that a policy upon these
lines, coupled with the maintenance of the fullest religious liberty in
Palestine and with scrupulous regard for the rights of each community with
reference to its Holy Places, cannot but commend itself to the various sections
of the population, and that upon this basis may be built up that spirit of
co-operation upon which the future progress and prosperity of the Holy Land
must largely depend.
No. 7.
THE ZIONIST ORGANISATION TO THE COLONIAL OFFICE
77, Great Russell Street .
SIR, With reference to your letter of June 3rd, receipt of
which has already been acknowledged, I have the honor to inform you that the
Executive of the Zionist Organization have considered the statement relative to
the policy of His Majesty's Government in Palestine, of which you have been
good enough to furnish them with a copy, and have passed the following
resolution :•—•
"The Executive of the Zionist Organization, having
taken note of the statement relative to British policy in Palestine ,
transmitted to them by the Colonial Office under date June 3rd, 1922 , assure His Majesty's Government
that the activities of the Zionist Organization will be conducted in conformity
with the policy therein set forth."
The Executive observe with satisfaction that His Majesty's
Government, in defining their policy in Palestine ,
take occasion once more to reaffirm the Declaration of November 2nd, 1917 , and lay it down as a matter
of international concern that the Jewish people should know that it is in Palestine
as of right.
The Executive further observe that His Majesty's Government
also acknowledge, as a corollary of this right, that it is necessary that the
Jews shall be able to increase their numbers in Palestine by immigration, and
understand from the statement of policy that the volume of such immigration is
to be determined by the economic capacity of the country from time to time to
absorb new arrivals. Whatever arrangements may be made in regard to the
regulation of such immigration, the Executive confidently trust that both His
Majesty's Government and the Administration of Palestine will be guided in this
matter by the aforesaid principle.
The Zionist Organization has at all times been sincerely
desirous of proceeding in harmonious co-operation with all sections of the
people of Palestine . It has
repeatedly made it clear both in word and deed that nothing is further from its
purpose than to prejudice in the smallest degree the civil or religious rights
or the material interests of the non-Jewish population. The Zionist Organization
will continue on its side to spare no efforts to foster the spirit of goodwill
to which His Majesty's Government have pointed as the only sure foundation for
the future prosperity of Palestine .
The Executive earnestly hope that the statement of policy which His Majesty's
Government propose to issue will once and for all dispel such misapprehensions
as may still exist, and that, loyally accepted by all
I have, etc.,
(Signed) CH. WEIZMANN.
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