ARAB AND JEW
Sut,—Sir Louis Rieu's letter favouring the restriction of Jewish immigra- tion and land ownership in Palestine will carry very little weight against the dear view of our Prime Minister, supported by two previous Prime Ministers, two Lord Chancellors of England and several Colonial Secre- taries. All of them have consistently taken the view that the economic conditions of the country must govern the number of immigrants and " no other policy could possibly be pursued in Palestine in carrying out the idea of a National Home " (Speech of Sir Philip Cunliffe Lister, • House of Commons, April 3rd, 1933. Column 1419). Mr. Anthony Eden speaking at the League Council on November 15th, 1937, apologised for reducing Jewish immigration for a period of eight months and explained it as "a purely temporary measure designed to meet temporary and exceptional conditions." The only explanation I can give of Sir Louis Rieu's letter is that he is personally hostile to the idea of a National Home and in favour of renouncing the obligation undertaken by the British Government to facilitate its establishment. As to that, the Royal Commission on Palestine which went very carefully into every aspect of the question stated categorically, " We have no doubt that the British people will repudiate any such suggestion. The spirit of good faith forbids it." (Report, page 37o.) The detailed arguments by which your correspondent attempts to justify his opposition to the establishment of a Jewish State in Palestine have been frequently refuted in many documents, official and unofficial. I shall not, therefore, take up your valuable space in repeating these refutations. The " important qualifying clause " of the Balfour Declara- tion, to which Sir Louis refers with approval, viz , " it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine," was intended as a safeguard against possible oppression of an Arab minority by the eventual Jewish majority of Palestine. The Government, at the time they gave their promise to the Jews in consideration of valuable services rendered by the Jews to all the Allies, including the Arabs themselves, during the last War, obviously looked forward to an eventual Jewish State with a Jewish majority, and pledged themselves to safe- guard the minority of Christians, Arabs and others. As I was the initiator of the negotiations which culminated in the Balfour Declaration, I speak with some knowledge of the subject.—I am, Sir, Yours obediently, 25 Palace Gate, London, W. 8.
JAMES A. MALCOLM.
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