LAND OF MILK AND HONEY

For twenty years unceasing strife between Arabs and Jews has harassed the statesmen of Europe and the Near East. In her proposal to create an independent Arab-controlled Palestine, Great Britain has arrived at a feasible solution of this seemingly insoluble post-war racial problem. Although granting the Moslems their ardently desired national state, England intends to insist that Jewish minority rights in the Holy Land be maintained.

The announcement of the British plan has evoked a roar of indignation from Jews throughout the world. They contend that the Balfour Declaration of 1917 guarantees them a "home" in Palestine. Undoubtedly this claim is justified. But a "home" is not synonymous with a Jewish National State. It should be remembered too that the Versailles Conference gave the Arabs control of this territory, subject to a British mandate.

As justification for their dominion over the Holy Land, the Hebrews point to past days of Biblical glory. However, such a far-off historical precedent does not warrant depriving the Arabs of a land they have held for over twelve hundred years. Deplorable as may be the persecution of the Jews in several European countries, the need for a haven of refuge is no excuse for them to oust a Moslem population of twice their number. One cannot help but sympathize with these desert dwellers in their fight against inundation by a flood of alien settlers, who have a diametrically opposed philosophy of life. Even if no displacement of population is intended, a minority of less than one-third of the inhabitants should not expect to exercise governmental control.

Since the geographical intermingling of the two races throughout Palestine makes the creation of two separate kingdoms impossible, the British plan seems the only feasible one. The English are perfectly justified in forcing their solution despite the vehement Hebrew protests. Yet England has a moral obligation to protect those Jews already living in the Holy Land. Not only has the new scheme recognized this intention, but His Majesty's government has gone even further, in giving both races proportional representation in the government of the new state. Although bloody riots will undoubtedly break out between the two races for years to come, this plan may well be a first step towards a new era of peace and harmony in the Land of Milk and Honey.