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 109

109 7. The uncontrolled state of the land frontiers of Palestine rendered possible the illicit importation of arms on a considerable scale and the incursion of armed bands of marauders, the heads of which assumed control of the rebellious elements in Palestine. When the riots were over, the foremost leader of thßse bands wa3 able to leave the country and the publication of his portrait and his defiant messages in the Palestine Arab press was tolerated. 8. Government failed to sever its connections with, or to use its rights of dismissal in regard to, those members of the Arab Higher Committee who held official positions with the approval of the Government or by direct appointment under it. Such misplaced tolerance could only serve as an encouragement to disorders. 9. The mediation of Nuri Pasha Said, acting as an official representative of the Iraqi Government, served as a further encouragement to the forces of disorder and led to the prolongation of anarchy. The virtual acceptance of this mediation by the Government of Palestine was tantamount to an admission that foreign Arab Governments had a right to intervene in the internal affairs of Palestine. This constituted a new departure running counter to the whole spirit and purpose of the Palestine Mandate, which recognises the rights of the! Jewish people as a whole in regard to Palestine, but gives no such recognition to the rights of the Arab people outside Palestine. Although this mediation proved abortive it led eventually to a joint appeal by the Arab kings — a further step taken presumably with the consent of the British Government. The whole of this dvelopment proved most detrimental to the prestige of the Mandatory Government and engendered further hopes of defeating its declared policy in Palestine by the use of violence. Jerusalem, January 14, 1937.