The draft mandates for Palestine and Mesopotamia, which are to
come before the Council of the League of Nations on February 21st, were published unofficially last week. The Palestine mandate makes Great Britain " 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 religions rights of all the inhabitants of Palestine, irrespective of race and religion." The Zionist organization is recognized m a Jewish agency " for the purpose of advising and co-operating with the Administration of Palestine in such economic, social, and other matters as may affect the establishment of the Jewish National Home." The Administration, " while ensuring that the rights and position of other sections of the population are not prejudiced, shall facilitate Jewish immigration under suitable conditions," and " close settlement by Jews on the land." The Jewish Chronicle says that the terms " lamentably fail " to encourage the Jews to devote their energies to tie regenera- tion of Palestine. Most people will, however, be glad to find that the rights of the native Christians and Moslems are safeguarded, on paper, against the immigrant Jews from Eastern Europe.
