The Palestine Discussions The Government's proposal to hold discussions in
London on the problem of Palestine has had a better reception among the Arabs than seemed probable. No doubt this is due partly to Arab satisfaction at the abandonment of partition, partly to the Government's wisdom in inviting representatives of the Arab States, partly to the dangers facing the Arab cause if it continues to prosecute its ends by violence alone. On Tuesday Fakhri Bey Nashashibi, a member of the National Defence Party opposed to the policy of the Mufti and of one of the most powerful families in Palestine, approved the idea of the conference but demanded the presence of representatives of the Mufti's opponents, who, he stated, were the largest and most responsible section of the Arabs, but had been terrorised and silenced by the Mufti. On the same day, however, the Mufti himself expressed his approval of the conference, and there is an obvious way out of the serious dilemma facing the Government if they can now secure the presence of representatives who, while having the approval of the Mufti and sharing his views, are not, like himself, personally unacceptable. The French this week indicated that no delegates from Syria and the Lebanon can be expected; but if, as may be expected, the Arab States adjacent to Palestine send delegates, the Govern- ment may feel that its plan has made a reasonably good start.
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