PALESTINE OF THE MANDATE. By W. Basil Worsfold. (T. Fisher
Unwin. 21s. net.) Mn. WDRSPoLu's pleasant and instructive book combines the impressions of a long tour in Palestine together with a fairly detailed account of the British administration and its problems under the Mandate. The author emphasizes the contrast between the Palestinian cultivator, whose methods are those of the early Middle Ages, and the Jewish settler with his scientific practice and modern equipment. The Zionists have set an example which the native Moslems are slow to follow. Mr. Worsfold in his enthusiasm tends to criticize our Government for not investing capital in Palestine so that the neglect of ages under Turkish misrule may be quicky remedied. But it is probably better for Palestine to make haste slowly even if we had the money to spare for the roads, drainage, schools, hospitals and other things that the country needs—according to Western standards. The population is very small—barely exceeding that of Manchester—for a territory roughly the size of Wales, and rapid progress is not to be expected. Still Mr. Worsfold makes us realize how much British rule has done already for the benefit of the inhabitants, and how-just it has been to Moslem, Christian- and Jew alike. His descriptions of the scenery are interesting and are illus- trated from his own sketches, which will assuredly send many tourists to Carmel and Galilee and Jerusalem.
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