October 1923 Arab Leaders Reject an Arab Agency
The British Cabinet came up with yet a third idea to include the Arab population in the development of a local government. Just as the Jews had a Jewish Agency to participate in decision making around economic and social matters, the Arabs were offered an Arab Agency. In October of 1923, the Arab leaders rejected the attempt. The following quote is from the letter sent by the President of the Arab Executive to the High Commissioner.
“The object of the Arab inhabitants of Palestine is not an Arab Agency analogous to the Zionist Agency. Their [Arab] sole object is independence. The Arab owners of the country cannot see their way to accept a proposal which tends to place them on an equal footing with the alien Jews.”
Source: 2, pp. 289-290