by the Palestine Royal Commission

“ An able Arab exponent of the Arab case told us that the Arabs throughout their history have not only been free from anti-Jewish sentiment but have also shown that the spirit of compromise is deeply rooted in their life. And he went on to express his sympathy with the fate of the Jews in Europe. "There is no decent-minded person," he said, "who would not want to do everything humanly possible to relieve the distress of those persons," provided that it was "not at the cost of inflicting a correspondmg distress on another people." Considering what the possibility of finding a refuge in Palestine. ”

“ The steps taken by the Palestine Government to enforce respect for law and order have proved ineffectual. The elementary duty of providing public security has not been discharged. Endeavours to control the alienation of land by Arabs to Jews have not been successful. In the hills there is no more room for further settlement by Jews ”

“ As regards immigration the Mandate has been fully implemented, but the attempts to regulate it have been unsatisfactory, unacceptable to Arabs and Jews alike, and accompanied by disconcerting variations in the number of immigrants.
5. In the matter of finance, the revenues of Palestine have increased rapidly, but far too large a proportion has had to be devoted towards meeting the charges of public security. Article 18 of the Mandate hampers the trade of the country. The apparently large surplus is little more than a reasonable balance for existing commitments. ”

“ For Partition means that neither will get all it wants. It means that the Arabs must acquiesce in the exclusion from their sovereignty of a piece of territory, long occupied and once ruled by them. It means that the Jews must be content with less than the Land of Israel they once ruled and have hoped to rule again. ”

“ They might reduce the inflammation and bring down the temperature, but they cannot cure the trouble, The disease is so deep-rooted that, in our firm conviction, the only hope of a cure lies in a surgical operation. ”

“ Progressive Jewish Municipalities are unduly restricted by Government rules and regulations. We recommend the appointment of an expert to advise the Palestine Government with a view to extending the powers of the larger Municipalities. ”

“ In particular, the final limitation of the Jewish National Home within a fixed frontier and the enactment of a new Mandate for the protection of the Holy Places, solemnly guaranteed by the League of Nations, removes all anxiety lest the Holy Places should ever come under Jewish control. ”

“ Reluctance really to facilitate immigration, inadequate labour schedules (no reasons being assigned for reductions made) , hardship to dependants, the omission of possible vacancies arising from employment on Public Works, and uncontrolled illegal Arab immigration. Our recommendations are:—
(i) Immigration should be reviewed, and decided upon political, social and psychological as well as economic considerations. A political "high level" should be fixed at 12,000 a year for the next five years, to include Jews of every category. ”

“ Numberless men and women all over the world would feel a sense ‘of deep relief if somehow an end oould be put to strife and bloodshed in a thrice hallowed land.
This work is in the public domain worldwide because it was created by a public body of the United Kingdom with Crown Status and commercially published before 1973. ”

“ The attitude of, Arab officials precludes any extension of their employment in the higher posts of the Administration, including the Judiciary. Self-governing institutions cannot be developed in the peculiar circumstances of Palestine under the Mandate. ”

“ Whilst we believe that these grievances are sincerely felt, we are of opinion that most of them cannot be regarded as legitimate under the terms of the Mandate and we are therefore not called upon to make recommendations on them. It is only in regard to the last that we are able to suggest any remedy. We would welcome increased expenditure on Arab education, especially in the direction of village agricultural schools. ”

“ The restrictions which the Mandatory Power found it necessary to impose in the interests of rural boards or backward municipalities have been resented by the larger towns. The attempts to create a local legislature have been unsuccessful and should not be revived. ”

“ Arab Grievances. 8. The Arab grievances may be summarized en bloc as a repudiation of the Mandate and all that it implies, from which the following main grievances arise:—
(1) The failure to develop self-governing institutions. (2) The acquisition of land by the Jews. (3) Jewish Immigration. (4) The use of Hebrew and English as official languages. (5) The employment of British and Jewish officers, and exclusion of Arabs from the higher posts. (6) The creation of a large class of landless Arabs, and the refusal of Jews to employ Arab labourers. (7) Inadequate funds for Arab education. ”