Palestine: A Modern History (ص 30)

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Palestine: A Modern History (ص 30)

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62 Polarisation: The Military Administration 1917-1920 a he
by appealing to the fanaticism of the villagers and as they. would
certairtly be supported by Arabs outside Palestine.”
It was under the inflyence of the ‘young bloods’ that the Conference
passed ,some strong-worded resolutions. The delegations held that the
resolutions expressed the wishes and derhands of the peopler of
‘Southern Syria known as Palestine’. They communicated these resolu-
tions to the Peace Conference ‘being convinced that it will admit our
rights, comply with our demands and grant our requests’. The Palestin-
wians’ wishes and demands submitted to the Peace Conference opened by
a reference to ‘the fact that the Declaration of President Wilson is
considered to be one of the fundamental principles on which the Peace
Conference is based for the freedom of nations liberated from the
Turkish yoke, the cancellation of all secret treaties concluded during
the war and the promise to nations to choose the kind of-government
they desire for themselves’.”
The,decisions are worth quoting in full:””
a
1. We consider Palestine as part of Arab Syria, as it has never
been separated from it at any time. We are connected with it by
national, religious, linguistic, natural, economic and geographical
bonds.
2.The Declaration made by M. Pichon, Minister for Foreign
Affairs for France, that France had, rights in our country based on
the desires and aspirations of the inhabitants has.no foundation and
we reject all the declarations made in his speech of 29th December,
1918, as our,.wishes and aspirations are only in Arab unity and
complete independence.
3. In view of the above we desire that one district Southern Syria
or Palestine should not be separated from the Indepéndent Arab
Syrian Government and to be free from all foreign influence and
protection. ,
4.In accordance with the rule laid down by President Wilson and
approved by most of the Great Powers we consider that every
promise or treaty concluded in respect of our country and its future
as null and void and reject the same.
5.The Government of the country will apply for help to its
friend Great Britain in case of need for the improvement and
deyelopment of the country provided that this will not affect its-
independence and Arab unity in arly way and will keep good relations
with the Allied Powers.”
oa ,
Polarisation: The Military Administration 19171920 63
_ The Palestine Conference also decided to send a delegation to
Damascus ‘to, inform Arab patriots there of the .decision to call
Palestine Southern Syria and unite it-with Northern Syria’.” -Another
delegation of three was named ‘as possible representatives to go to
Paris’. The decisions of the Conference were presented in writing to
the British, French, Italian and Spanish representatives in Jerusalem. It
was, apparent that the young elements, with the, help of Palestinian
pressure from outside, prevailed on the Conference. Before adjourning,
’ the Conference agreed to meet again.at Nablus three months hence, but
failed to,elect an executive Committee to the Conference,
Camp’s observations and remarks were upheld by a paper written by
f Weizmann based on reports supplied by a nascent Zionist intelligence
} department. The paper, which was forwarded .by Sykes to the F.O.,
, added new dimensions to the possibilities of Arab action against
e Zionism:.
The pro-Arabic and the absolute annexation of Palestine to the
Cherif is the opinion of the greatest intellectual and agitating part of
the youth...
The moderate. class of opinion belongs to the notability of the
elder age are for a local autonomy.:They are much more material-
istic than idealist. Though being hostile to the Jews they do not
show their hostility and will not oppose. themselves to a political
entente with the Jew. Youth fighting very much against: them.*!
% i
In a ‘Postscriptum to the note concerning the Arab question’; dated
B8 January 1919, Weizmann disclosed that the Palestinian moderates,
aged men, Muslims and Christians belonging to the rich and influential
i families of Palestine, especially of Jerusalem, had organised themselves
| under the name of ‘Moslem and Christian Association’. This Association
B advocated
the necessity of. sending delegates to Europe, who will reclaim
‘Palestine for the Palestinians’.-They said that it was impossible for
the Christians as well as for the Jews to accept the rule of the
Cheriff over Palestine as asked by the youth.®?
»
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هو جزء من

Palestine: A Modern History

تاريخ

1978

المنشئ

Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali

مجموعات العناصر

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