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Brief by Gareth Jones for David Lloyd George 30.4.30

 

 

THE SITUATION IN PALESTINE.

 

 

The Population In Palestine.

 

     Census 1922.     Total population     757,182

          Moslems       590,890

          Jews          83,794

          Christians    73,024

                    

            1928 estimated population.

          Total       898,000

          Moslems     680,000

          Jews        150,000

          Christians     79,000

 

There is a united demand that the Government shall restate definitely and with the least possible delay, the policy which they intend to pursue in Pales tine.

 

Since the younger generation is not clear as to why a Jewish National Home was established in Palestine, it would be advisable to restate in an article or in a speech the fundamental historical and moral rights of the Jews to be in Palestine and to give an account of the events and aspirations which led up to the Balfour Declaration.

 

To-day the problem is mainly ECONOMIC and centers

 

upon 2 questions :- (I) Immigration.

                              (II) Land purchase.

 

Summary of Dr. Weizmann’s and Zionist views on these questions.

(1)            Immigration.

 

(a)        There is room for another 50,000 families if modern scientific methods are adopted. “Where the Arabs used to grow water-melons or graze goats, we grow oranges or work dairy farms according to the most modern methods of cultivation.”

 

(b)        We have not sent more people into Palestine than it can absorb. Proof; there is no unemployment there.

 

(o)            Transjordan is the land reserve of Palestine.

 

(d)        The Administration is unsatisfactory; the level of civil servants is low. What is required is a first class High Commissioner with a first class Chief Secretary.

 

(o) No case of injustice to the Arabs is quoted in the report.

 

We have paid compensation to tenants even when the land did not require it.

 

(f.) The Arab accusation that the Jews seize the best land is not true. We make it the best land.

 

(g) There are great possibilities for close settlement, especially on the coast.

 

The Commission however has vindicated the Government. The Administration is placed in a difficult position by the tendency of Arabs and Jews to accuse the Government of favouring the other side, because it does not favour their own side.

 

It is uncontested that the Arabs have always been well compensated. The competition between the Arabs and the Jews is mainly the competition, not between two religions and races, but between old—fashioned methods and science. The efficient are ousting the inefficient as everywhere in the world. The leaders play upon religious feeling, but at the bottom of it all is the fear that the Arabs will be deprived of their livelihood.

 

Land Settlement.

 

The British Administration’s Land Ordinance provides that long notice to quit must be given and that the tenant must be fully compensated for improvements effected by him. The report of the High Commissioner on the Administration of Palestine for 1920—25 states “The price paid for these purchases (i.e. land) is usually some two or three times the pre-war value of the land. Large as is the demand the quantity of land which is offered for sale is far in excess of the possibility of purchase.”

 

The Commission differs profoundly from Dr. Weizmann on the problem of land settlement. The report states: “There is no alternative land to which persons evicted can remove. In consequence a landless and discontented class is being created.”

 

The main conclusion is that after the Government has clearly stated its policy with regard to the rights of non-Jewish communities and to Immigration and land­-purchase, drastic measures must be taken to increase the productiveness of Palestine.

 

Growth of Population.

           Araba

        End of Year.        Jews        Settled Popu1ation

      1919 (estimate)    57,900   546,100

      1920    “                   67,700   552,300

      1921     77,600   559,800

      1922  (Census)    85,300   572,700

      1923 (estimate)    91,200   584,200

      1924    104,300   599,200

      1925    “                138,300   611,900

      1926    147,500   629,200

      1927  (August)   148,100   640,400

      1928    (July)   149,500   645,000

 

 

Total Increase for

        about 10 years        91,600        98,900

 

 

 

Number of Jewish Immigrants.

      1920     8,223

      1921     8,294

      1922     8,685

      1923     8,093

      1924    12,905

      1925    33,135

      1926    13,244

      1927     2,320

      1928     2,178

 

Trade and Commerce.

 

The total value of Imports and exports for the whole of Palestine 1924-8

             Imports   Exports

      1924 £5,733,00     £2,175,313

      1925 7,798,895 1,628,879

      1926 6,680,340 1,538,329

      1927 6,588,142 2,280,810

      1928 6,966,214 1,864,800

 

Public Services.

 

In the public services, the chief posts are held by English civil servants. In the High Commissioner’s Council all are Englishmen, of whom 3 are Christians and 1 a Jew. The following Table shows the personnel of the

 

Civil service on the 1st July, 1929:

/

                                           Christian                             Moslems                     

        Senior: Junior:Total:  Senior:Jun1or:Tota1

British  221     122    343 -               -     1      1    

Pales:            78           l,098         1,176 87        1,024      1,111                                       

                     299        1,220         1,519 87        1,025      1,112                                                                                                          

 

       Jews 

Senior:Junior:Total:

18      35     53

50      664    714

68      899    767

~                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

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