BRITAIN IN PALESTINE
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The League of Nations required that countries under the Mandatory system should be brought to independence under the supervision of the mandatory power, but Palestine was excluded from this requirement. The British government tried to pay lip service to the idea, with plans for Advisory or Legislative Councils which were always weighted in favour of the Jews who formed 10% of the population. The Palestinian Arabs refused to accept these plans, and when they were made fairer to the Arabs, the Zionists turned them down.
“…the creation at this stage of a national Government would preclude the fulfilment of the pledge made by the British Government to the Jewish people…”
– Churchill reply to Arab Delegation, 1 March 1922
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When the League of Nations was set up, the U.S. President, Woodrow Wilson, set out 12 principles, one of which related to the need for independence and self-government in those countries which had been in the Ottoman empire. As one of those countries, Palestine was entitled to be treated according to those principles.
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