Palestine: A Modern History (ص 59)

غرض

عنوان

Palestine: A Modern History (ص 59)

المحتوى

120 Deadlock: 1920-1923 \
-No definite decisiom was reached on this cafdinal issue. Howéver,
sertain- conclusions ‘may be drawn from:the tespective backgrountds'of
thé suppotters and the opportents of the motion for non-payment,
Jamal “Husseini was mainly; supportéd by ‘Is& ‘al‘Isa and. *‘Isa
Bandak, both educated: middle-class Christian joirnalists, while his
opposité number was mainly ‘supported by Amiri -Bey‘Tamini and-Hafez
Bey ‘Tuqan,-both of whom were rich effendis, the- latter on friendly
terms with the Zionists. f fey J
An authoritative explanation of the motives of thosé who opposed
the idea of non-payment of taxes was provided by the Governor of
Samaria: 7
4 “ak
Before the meétifig (Congress) was held’ I had thé Mayor’s assurance
that resolutions to réfuse to pay takes would fot be adopted. He
told me that Hajj Said Shawa’ was very anxious {Kattife’ resolution to
refuse to pay taxes should-not be adopted becdiisé he wasta large
landowner and would be the first to suffer from whatever action
the Government Would:take.'¥8 2
4
arte bday
: "It: should be ‘further noted that the political leadership failed to use
the powerful*weapon of non-payment of taxes at a time: when:such a
measure’ stood a good chance of being adhered to by large sectidhs of
the population. According to the Administration’s' reports Jamal
Husseini’s speech advocating non-pdyment of taxes ‘has given
satisfaction to-the Arab population’.'°® In Norther Palestine an attack
on British gendarmes took placeton 10 June. In the Southern District
the ifthabitants were discontented:' _
Thejr State: of mind is such that anti-Government propaganda and
in particular: fon-pdymient of tithes and taxes propaganda would’be
sythpatheticallY received.”
i af
After electing a new Executive Committee the Congress adopted
twenty-four ‘resolutiéns, and ‘charged the new Executive with carrying
out the boycott of the Rutenberg Scheme: and of Jewish goods and
activities in géneral. Money«was collected’ for the departifig Delegation
and for the London pro-Arab British Bureau.
fey
No Change of Policy
Stimulated by: news fromEngland that a Cabinet Committee was sitting
Deadlock: 1920-1923 121
to report on the: Palestine question the new Arab Delegation left
Palestine on 15 July.-The Cabinet Committee, however, refused to
grant an interview to the Delegation, which ‘caused disgust and
I disappointment if -Arab-nationalist circle?’ 4! InStead ‘of ré€alling the
: Delegation and convening a Congress to study“'the attitude of the
British"Government and draw the logi¢al conclusions as to the line of
action the Arabs should adopt, thé Executive: Committee resolved to
@. instruct ‘the Delegation to remain in Englaftid and visit America for
propaginda and fund-raising purposes.
An ‘explanation of the attitude was provided by Gilbert Clayton, an
experienced old hand in Arab and Palestinian affairs, who replaced
Deedes as Civil Secretary 'in thé spring of 1923. In a ‘etter to
Devonshire, Clayton reported the’ gist of 4’Conversation he had with
‘some of the more advanced ‘tnembers of the Moslem‘ Christian
Association’, who revealed to him‘ thé litte ‘of action the ‘Association
proposed to follow in the eveht of the return of the Delegation empty-
fe handed. Far from contemplating’ revolutionary course’of action the
Palestinian opposition to the Gdvernment intendéd to stick to
constitutional and legal methods. They were particularly encouraged by
the growing support for their cause in the House of Commons, and they
seem confident erlough that their intluerice over théit followers is
sufficiently strong'to prevent any violent or unconstitutidn‘l action
as long ‘as they can show that their: present poli¢y is giving:good
results.4*?
Clayton shrewdly recommended to’ the Cofdnial Sdcretaty hot to
f dash these hopes ‘to ‘the ground too ‘suddenly, and that the Arabs
- Should have some grounds for maihtaining ‘their ‘present’ policy
which at least has the merit of causing thém to’ refrain from other
and more undesitable methods, thus’ giving time fér wise counsels
to prevail.
Soon! afterwards Clayton’s hopes for ‘wise counsels to prevail’ were
& taking their speedy course towards realisation:
‘ ' '
A party which first termed itself the’ Liberal Moderate’ Pafty, and
subsequently the National Party, is in process of formation. Its
avowed policy, although nationalistic, is opposed to that of the
Moslem-Christian Association inasmuch as'it proposes to’atfain its
&
Be eka a 4M
eS ee
Pet ee « See

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

مجموعات العناصر

Generated Pages Set