'File 11/32 Royal Commission on Palestine' [‎20v] (40/308)

Those areas, therefore, should be surveyed and an estimate made
of the practical possibilities of irrigation and development as quickly
as possible. If, as a result, it is clear that a substantial amount of
land could be made available for the re-settlement of Arabs living in
the Jewish area, the most strenuous efforts should be made to obtain
an agreement for the transfer of land and population. In view of the
present antagonism between the races and of the manifest advantage
to both of them for reducing the opportunities of future friction to
the utmost, it is to be hoped that the Arab and the Jewish leaders
might show the same high statesmanship as that of the Turks and^r
the Greeks and make the same bold decision for the sake of peace.
The cost of the proposed irrigation and development schem^t"
would be heavier than the Arab State could be expected to beaiv
Here again the British people, it is suggested, would be willing to
help to bring about a settlement ; and if an arrangement could be
made for the transfer, voluntary or otherwise, of land and population,
Parliament should be asked to make a grant to meet the cost of the
aforesaid scheme.
If it should be agreed to terminate the Mandate and establish a
Treaty System on a basis of Partition, there would be a period of
transition before the new regime came into force, and during this
period the existing Mandate would continue to be the governing
instrument of the Palestine Administration. But the recommenda
tions made in Part II of the Report as to what should be done
under the existing Mandate presupposed its continuance for an
indefinite time and would not apply to so changed a situation as the
prospect of Partition would bring about.
The following are recommendations for the period of transition :—
(1) Land .—Steps should be taken to prohibit the purchase o^
land by Jews within the Arab Area {i.e., the area of the project
Arab State) or by Arabs within the Jewish Area {i.e., the area ♦
of the projected Jewish State).
The settlement of the plain-lands of the Jewish Area should
be completed within two years.
(2) Immigration .—Instead of the political “ high-level ” there
should be a territorial restriction on Jewish immigration. No
Jewish immigration into the Arab Area should be permitted.
Since it would therefore not affect the Arab Area and since the
Jewish State would soon become responsible for its results, the
volume of Jewish immigration should be determined by the
economic absorptive capacity of Palestine less the Arab Area.
(3) Trade .—Negotiations should be opened without delay
to secure the amendment of Article 18 of the Mandate and to
place the external trade of Palestine upon a fairer basis.