THE ARABS IN PALESTINE [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—Your correspondent, Mr. I. Nakhleh, seeks to justify

the Arab riots in Palestine on the ground that the Arabs are " struggling for their existence." By whatever criterion

this statement may be tested, it will be found to be untenable. The fact is that they have greatly increased in numbers and steadily improved in social and economic welfare under the Mandatory regime to which their leaders are opposed.

Since 1919 the Arab population (Moslem and Christian) has increased from 590,000 to 950,000.

That the economic position of the Arabs has improved is shown by the fact that whereas, before the War, there was a steady emigration from the country, during the last few years there has been a continuous influx of Arabs from the neighbouring territories. The number who entered Palestine from 1932 to 1934 is estimated at 24,000, the attraction consisting of the lucrative employment provided by Jewish industry, which the Arabs of Syria and Transjordan obviously preferred to the poverty under their national governments." The rise in the standard of living is shown by the fact that before the War an Arab agricultural worker in an orange plantation earned only from 21 to 31 piastres per day, whereas now he earns five times as much. In the towns the wage for unskilled workers is 12 to 15 piastres per day, while skilled workers, of course, receive a much higher wage.

Your correspondent describes Jewish immigration as " dangerous " to the existence of the Arabs. This allegation is disproved not only by the data already given, but also by the very significant fact that, according to the last Govern- ment census (in 1931), the increase in the Arab population was most marked in those districts where the greatest progress has been made in Jewish settlement (Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Haifa), and lowest where there are few or no Jews (Nablus, Gaza, and Nazareth).

Mr. Nakhleh quotes front Sir John Hope Shnpson's Report

on immigration and land settlement, which he describes as "unchallenged." Not only was that Report challenged and

some of its most important findings disproved, but the Government spokesman in the House of Commons admitted that some of its figures were not accepted, and the consequence was that Mr. Lewis French was appointed in 1931 to investigate the real mnnber of" displaced Arabs" and draw up a scheme for their resettlement. Mr. Nakhleh speaks of the "dispos- session of 6,000 Arab families from land." This is a gross exaggeration. According to the Palestine Government

Report for 1934 (the latest published), out of 3,236 applications for admission to the Register of Landless Arabs only 656 heads of families were admitted, 2,578 were disallowed, and two claims were still under consideration. By the end of

1934 the Government had acquired 17,868 dunams of land, costing £72,240, for the purpose of resettling landless Arabs, and the Report (p. 58) sums up as follows :

"All registered Arabs who have signified their willingness to take up holdings upon Government estates have been accom- modated. That only a small number of Arabs has come forward to take up land is due to the fact that there is at present plenty of employment to be found in the towns and neighbouring orange. groves."

Mr. Nakhleh also attempts to revive controversy about

the principle underlying the tenure of the land of the Jewish National Fund. It is, therefore, necessary to explain that this Fund leases land to Jews on condition that they work

it- themselves, that is, without- the tiSsistilitce of-hired labour of -arry.kind, ever' Jewish ; and inasmuch as this Fund, which was established 35 years ago.' is supported entirely by means of the voluntary contribution's (for the most part in small sums) from Jews all over the world, it is not only natural that it should lay down a rule that will ensure the permanent attachment of the Jew to the soil of his National Home. But this should not be urged as an Arab grievance. for there are about 8,000 Arabs employed in Jewish agricultural settlements on other land (the number of Arabs in some settlements being far in excess of Jews). Moreover, the Arabs _ have increased the area of their orange-growing plantations • from 20,000 dunams (5,000 acres) in 1022 to 120,000 'imams. And, finally, there are very large areas in Arab possession that are still awaiting cultivation,—! anm.

77 Great Russell Street, London, W.C'.1. ISRAEL COHEN.