Political report of the Executive of the Jewish Agency submitted to the ... Zionist Congress and the ... session of the Council of the Jewish Agency · 1937-08-01 · 8.1937 · p. Seite 102

102 throughout the world a growing State activity prevails in all spheres of economic life and when such a policy appears to be especially warranted by the requirements of Palestine. 2. The customs tariff of Palestine should long ago have been adapted to current economic developments throughout the world by the introduction of anti-dumping duties and the extension of a fair measure of protection to such industries as hold out a reasonable prospect of succeeding. 3. Industrial development in Palestine should have been encouraged by Government through such measures as the purchase of local products for Government stores, the exploration of foreign markets, the promotion of technical education, the improvement of communications and telephone services, the extension of import statistics and similar measures. Industrial matters should be administered by officers especially appointed for the purpose and continuously engaged therein. 4. The construction at present placed on Article 18 of the Mandate seriously affects the development of export industries, as it deprives Palestine of any bargaining power in negotiations with other countries. Every effort should be made to obtain such an authoritative re-interpretation of this Article as will ensure to the Government of Palestine a fair measure of bargaining power in this respect. VI. CITRUS TRADE 1. Government has failed to take the necessary steps for obtaining authority from the League of Nations for adopting such fiscal or other measures as would enable the latter to secure the removal or at least the alleviation of existing restrictions on the import of Palestine citrus fruits into foreign countries and, in general, to increase the sale of citrus fruit abroad. 2: It is submitted that some method should be devised for procuring for Palestine oranges and grapefruit custom franchise in the United Kingdom, or at least the extension of the ten per cent duty period for oranges imported from Palestine and the reduction of the duty on grapefruit during the Palestinian shipping season. One way of achieving this object in part would be for the United Kingdom to allow the Government of Palestine an annual grant-in-aid equivalent to the amounts collected by way of duty on citrus fruit imported from Palestine into the United Kingdom, which might then be used for the promotion of the interests of the citrus industry of Palestine. 3. So far, no preparations have been made by Government to increase the aggregate storage and shipping capacity of thé ports in keeping with requirements even in the very near future;