Iv from the Turkish Conquest to 1918

The statement was rejected by the Palestine Arab delegation, then representing the Arab cause in London, partly because they were at the time committed to demands involving almost a re tractation of the mandate and partly from an instinctive reasoning that the policy even so enunciated might ultimately render Pales tine Arabs of secondary interest and importance in their own country. A prolonged Arab strike in 1936 was accompanied by considerable fighting. A royal commission under Lord Peel ar rived in Autumn, and in July 1937 it recommended termination of the mandate and the partition of Palestine into independent Jew ish and Arab states, with a mandatory enclave of the Holy Places. Lord Plumer was high commissioner 1925-28, Sir John Robert Chancellor 1928-31, Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope from 1931.

Constitution.

Three months after the beginning of the civil Government the high commissioner established a nominated advisory council, consisting of ten British officials and ten Pales tinians—seven Arabs (four Muslim and three Christian) and three Jews. Later, on the promulgation of the mandate, it was thought advisable to confer upon Palestine a more representative consti tution, and an order in council was issued in 1922, providing for the creation of a legislative council consisting of the high commis sioner and 22 other members, of whom ten were to be officials and 12 elected. The elected members were to be eight Muslims, two Jews and two Christians. A boycott on the part of the Arab pop ulation rendered these and other proposals abortive. Attempts to devise an advisory council were likewise frustrated.

The present system of government is that ordinances are con sidered first by the high commissioner in executive council, next, after receiving the provisional approval of the colonial secretary, submitted to the advisory council consisting of ten senior officials and then published in the official gazette; but do not, save in rare cases of special urgency, become law until at least one month after publication, so that interests affected may be given the opportunity 'For the general atmosphere and "psychology" of these events the reader is referred to the report of the commission of enquiry (Cmd. 1540, 1921).

of expressing their views. This they often do with effect.

Religion.

Complete liberty of religion prevails in Palestine. In certain matters of internal organization, however, action has been taken to assist the communities. A purely Muslim authority has been constituted for the control of Muslim religious endow ments (Wakfs) and for appointment of judges in the Muslim re ligious courts. To this authority, represented by an elected council, the Government has transferred certain wealthy endowments se questrated 8o years ago by the Turks. The Orthodox patriarchate

of Jerusalem, torn by dissensions both between the patriarch and his Synod and with the Orthodox Arab congregation, and crippled by debt, has seen the authority of its patriarch vindicated by a commission of inquiry, and its economic restoration begun by a financial commission, both appointed by the government. The Jewish community had possessed no recognized ecclesiastical or ganization. The Government assembled in 1921 a conference of leading Jews from all parts of Palestine. Two joint chief rabbis were elected ; a rabbinical council was established and officially recognized. The lay community was also organized into central and local councils. Further regulations for the organization of the Jewish community, both religious and lay, and conveying powers of taxation for communal purposes have now been promulgated. In 1924 the French Protectorate of Latin Holy Places was with drawn by the Vatican.

Justice.

The system of justice originally established by the military administration has been amended where necessary. Brit ish judges under a chief justice preside over the two sections of the court of appeal, four district courts and two land courts. All other judges and magistrates are Palestinians drawn impartially from among the qualified members of the three religious commu nities. Cases of religious law and personal status are still judged as under the Turkish regime by the special tribunal of the several creeds. Ottoman law, amended by ordinances of the administra tion, remains the foundation of the legal system.

In 1923 there was a budgetary deficit of LE.752,000. As a result of drastic economies, the position was retrieved in 1924, and resulted in a surplus of approximately £E.263,000.

*1927 April-December, 9 months (estimated).

The rate of the tithe has since been reduced from 121%, the Turkish figure, to 0%, thus relieving the agriculturist at a single step of one-fifth of the weight of the tax. Legislation is now being introduced providing for the commutation of the tithe into a fixed payment over a period of years and for the substitution of the old Turkish house and land (W erghu) tax by an urban property tax. Palestine has hitherto had the use, free of payment, of the main line of railway, and of certain other works constructed by the British army for military purposes during the war. In 1927 the Palestine loan of £2,000,000 was approved by parliament and rapidly covered ; and a Palestine currency, based on the pound sterling, with 1,000 mils to the Palestinian pound, introduced.