Mcdonald and Britain at Odds over Palestine’s Part in Refugee Settlement Work

Differences of opinion have arisen between James G. McDonald, who was appointed by the League of Nations as High Commissioner to handle the German refugee problem, and the British government, it is learned. The differences are based on the British government’s condition at the time the League took action on the refugee situation by creating an autonomous governing body and the post of High Commissioner to exclude Palestine, over which Great Britain holds the mandate, from the sphere of activities of the High Commissioner.

This condition, it is learned, was made at a private session of the League and Palestine was accordingly omitted from the resolution which the League adopted creating the refugee assistance body.

Mr. McDonald, it is now learned, considers that the exclusion of Palestine curtails his possibilities for settling the homeless refugees and ins###sts on his right to submit to the British government demands for the admission into Palestine of numbers of German refugees under a separate and distinct immigration quota.

Mr. McDonald’s desire to settle some of the refugees in Palestine meets with the approval of leaders in the Zionist movement who feel that in making the condition regarding exclusion of Palestine from the High Commissioner’s sphere, the British government merely wished to safeguard itself from intervention in the affairs of Palestine by another international body similar to the League Mandates Commission. They feel that Great Britain will give way to Mr. McDonald’s demand for a quota distinct from the present allocation of immigration certificates made to the Jewish Agency for Palestine.

The first meeting of the autonomous governing body set up by the League, in which fifteen countries are participating through representatives, will be held at Lausanne, December 5. At the meeting, three proposals concerning participation in the refugee settlement work by private relief and welfare organizations will be considered.

The first of these calls for the invitation to private organizations to send representatives to occupy permanent, non-voting seats in the governing body.

The second proposal calls for the creation of a separate body composed of representatives of the private organizations interested in the refugee work. This body would advise and cooperate with the High Commissioner.

The third proposal calls for the attendance at some or all of the governing body meetings of one or more representatives selected by this proposed body. This representative or representatives would act in a consultative capacity only.

Mr. McDonald, it is understood, is in favor of the latter proposal, considering that he would be able to achieve better results in the negotiations he will have to conduct if he can act as the representative of the various governments involved, not as the agent of private relief agencies and organizations.