Sir Herbert to Quit. Sir Herbert Samuel, British High Commissioner in Palestine, failed in his attempt to create a legislative council to represent the people of Palestine.
The majority of these people are Arabs, who have vigorously opposed the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, so welcomed by other states where the Jews are in a minority. The Arabs refused to vote for members of the legislative council. They feared that to vote was to commit themselves to the idea of a Jewish National Home. With the majority abstaining, Sir Herbert could only declare the elections void. An Advisory Council with ten official and twelve unofficial members, eight of whom are Arabs, was formed, as a temporary measure. Thus Palestine reverts to British rule.
As expressions of the bitterness aroused toward Zionism in Palestine, five British policemen were recently ambushed and murdered, and a native rising is reported in Transjordania.
The foreign policy of the British Government now tends to conciliate the Arabs, particularly those of Transjordania, Hedjaz and Iraq (Mesopotamia). A divorce between British foreign policy and Zionism coupled with effective Arab resistance in Palestine itself, renders Sir Herbert’s position intolerable. He intends to offer his resignation on his return to England.
Past History. From 1918, after its conquest by British Forces, until July 1, 1920, Palestine remained under British Military Administration. At that date a Civil Administration was set up with the appointment of Sir Herbert Louis Samuel, P. C. (Privy Councillor), G. B. E. (Knight GrandCross Order of the British Empire), as High Commissioner.
In April, 1920, the Allies at the San Remo Conference agreed to giveGreat Britain the mandate for Palestine. The draft Mandate was submittedto the League of Nations in December, 1920, after Turkey had renounced hersovereignty over the country by signing the Treaty of Sevres in August, 1920. The Mandate for Palestine was not, however, passed by the Council of the League until July, 1922.
In the Mandate was embodied the object of the Balfour declaration of November 2, 1917: “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of that object, 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 under the Constitution, promulgated on September 1, 1922, that the Legislative Council was to replace the Advisory Council, which then had only ten unofficial members—four Moslems, three Christians, three Jews. Owing to the non-coöperation of the Arabs the Constitution is now suspended.
The Jewish population in Palestine elected a National Committee to represent it in its dealings with the Administration. Both the British Government and the Palestine Administration have recognized the World Zionist Organization, represented in Palestine by the Palestine Zionist Executive, which is the agency of the Jewish people in all matters appertaining to the upbuilding of the Jewish National Home.
Sir Herbert Samuel is 52 years of age. He was educated at University College School and Balliol College, Oxford. He is considered one of the most brilliant Jews in the Empire. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 1902; since that time has held seven important Government posts and was three times a Cabinet Minister. In 1919 he was appointed British Special Commissioner to Belgium. King Albert decorated him with the Order of Leopold of Belgium in recognition of his valuable services.