July 1st, 1937 British Restrict Jewish Land Transfer

July 1^st, 1937 British Restrict Jewish Land Transfer

“The Royal Commission of 1936, expressed their unanimous agreement with the general conclusions of earlier investigators on the land problem.  They recommended that transfers of land from Arabs to Jews should be allowed only where it is possible to replace extensive by intensive cultivation, that is to say, in the plains, and not, at any rate at present, in the bills.  The Royal Commission stated without hesitation that at present, and indeed for many years to come, the Mandatory Power should not attempt to facilitate the close settlement of Jews in the hill districts generally.  So far as the plains were concerned, the Commission considered that with due precautions land might still be sold to the Jews.

Source: Palestine Royal (Peel) Commission 1937, Cmd. 5479 ** (have in PDF)