'File 11/32 Royal Commission on Palestine' [‎24r] (47/308)

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In view of possible commercial developments in the future, an enclave
on the north-west coast of the Gulf of Aqaba should be retained under
Mandatory administration, and the Arab Treaty should provide for free
transit of goods between the Jewish State and this enclave, as also to the
Egyptian frontier at Rafah. The Treaty should provide for similar facilities
for the transit of goods between the Mandated Area and Haifa, Rafah and
the Gulf of Aqaba.
The Jewish State should pay a subvention to the Arab State. A Finance
Commission should be appointed to advise as to its amount and as to the
vision of the public debt of Palestine and other financial questions.
In view of the backwardness of Trans-Jordan, Parliament should be asked
to make a grant of ^2,000,000 to the Arab State.
As a part of the proposed Treaty System, a Commercial Convention should
'^concluded with a view to establishing a common tariff over the widest
possible range of imported articles and to facilitating the freest possible
interchange of goods between the three territories.
The rights of all existing Civil Servants, including rights to pensions or
gratuities, should be fully honoured.
Agreements entered into by the Government of Palestine for the develop
ment and security of industries, e.g., that with the Palestine Potash Company,
should be taken over and carried out by the Governments of the Arab and
Jewish States. Guarantees to that effect should be given in the Treaties.
The security of the Power Station at Jisr el Majami should be similarly
guaranteed.
The Treaties should provide that if Arab owners of land in the Jewish
State or Jewish owners in the Arab State wish to sell their land, the Govern
ment of the State concerned should be responsible for purchase at a price to
be fixed, if required, by the Mandatory Government.
An immediate enquiry should be undertaken into the possibilities of
irrigation and development in Trans-Jordan, the Beersheba District and the
Jordan Valley. If it becomes clear that a substantial amount of land could
be made available for the resettlement of Arabs living in the Jewish Area,
strenuous efforts should be made to obtain an agreement, in the interests of
both parties concerned, for an exchange of land and population. To facilitate
such an agreement the United Kingdom Parliament should be asked to make
a^grant to meet the cost of the necessary development scheme.
For the transition period which would intervene before the Treaties came
'"xito force, the Commission’s recommendations are as follows. Land purchase
>y Jews within the Arab Area or by Arabs within the Jewish Area should be
prohibited. No Jewish immigration into the Arab Area should be permitted.
The volume of Jewish immigration should be determined by the economic
absorptive capacity of Palestine less the Arab Area. Negotiations should be
opened without delay to secure amendment of Article 18 of the Mandate ai.d
place the external trade of Palestine on a fairer basis. The Advisory Council
should, if possible, be enlarged by the nomination of Arab and Jewish
representatives. The municipal system should be re-formed on expert advice,
as recommended. A vigorous effort should be made to increase the number
of Arab schools.
The Commission point out that, while these proposals do not offer either
the Arabs or the Jews all they want, they offer each party what it wants
most, namely, freedom and security.
The advantages to the Arabs of Palestine may be summarized as follows :—
(i) They obtain their national independence and can co-operate on
an equal footing with the Arabs of the neighbouring countries in the
cause of Arab unity and progress.