This startling piece of news, from a French source in ,Jerusalem, is of interest as reflecting variotis currents of opinion on the situation in Palestine.
The centre of Arab resistance has been removed to Damascus where the Arab Committee of Defence for Palestine has its centre. The Arab states, particularly Irak and Egypt have taken up their position, as members of the League of Nations, against the English Palestine policy. Egyptian students have orgitnised anti-English manifestations at Celt&
From Arab soorces it is reported that England and France have agreed to set up a Jewish state extending further towards the South, and to make it a British dominion. On the other hand, according to the same sources, the Arab state is to be completely independent and would become a member of the League of Arab nations.
The same Arab source declares that France, as a Catholic nation, will be charged with the protection of the Holy Places, with a Mandate over Jerusalem and Bethlehem. France and England will reply to Italy's claims to this Mandate (based on the fact that the Catholics, and especially the priests in Palestine are mostly Italian) by, according to Italy, in compensation, a juridical recognition of the Abyssinian conquest.
French and Pan-Arabs
This information should be accepted with caution (continues the French source). The English will not sal the strong position they have acquired at Jerusalem for a small price. The rumours doubtless took its rise from the desire of France to increase the Jewish populations of Lebanon and Syria and so to increase the strength of Jewish influence against Arab nationalism. It is likely that Italy will not lightly surrender her claims, for she has as considerable interests in Palestine as France has, and there are many reasons why she should wish to secure bases of operation in the East.—CF.