Permanent Mandates Commission (Palestine) facts for kids

The British Mandate for Palestine was officially approved in 1922. This meant that Britain was given control over the area known as Palestine. The way Britain would govern this land was made official in 1923, after the League of Nations agreed to it and the Treaty of Lausanne was signed.

What Was the British Mandate?

Before the Mandate was fully approved, Britain changed from military rule to civilian rule in Palestine. This happened on July 1, 1920, when Herbert Samuel became the first High Commissioner. A High Commissioner is like a top leader or governor for a territory.

The Permanent Mandates Commission was a group that checked on how countries were managing their mandates. They first officially reviewed Britain's actions in Palestine in 1924. They looked at reports from 1920 to 1923 to see how things were going.

Mandate and the Balfour Declaration

The British Mandate for Palestine was a way to put the Balfour Declaration into action. The Balfour Declaration was a statement made by the British government in 1917. It supported the idea of creating a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine.

Checking Up on the Mandate

The Permanent Mandates Commission created a list of questions. These questions detailed what they expected to be included in the annual reports from the countries managing mandates. This helped them keep track of how things were progressing.

Key British Representatives

Several important British officials represented the UK at the Permanent Mandates Commission meetings over the years:

• 1921–1922: William Ormsby-Gore
• 1922–1936: Lord Lugard
• 1936–1939: Lord Hailey
• Briefly in 1939: Lord Hankey, before Lord Hailey returned.

Important Discussions and Decisions

The Permanent Mandates Commission held several important meetings where they discussed the challenges in Palestine.

1924: Britain's "Twofold Duty"

In November 1924, Herbert Samuel went to Geneva to explain Britain's plans for Palestine. At this time, Britain's policy was guided by the Churchill White Paper of 1922. A "White Paper" is a report or policy document issued by a government.

The Commission used the phrase "twofold duty." This referred to Britain's responsibilities to both the Jewish and non-Jewish populations in Palestine under the Mandate.

1930: The "Double Undertaking"

In 1930, British Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald used the phrase "double undertaking." He used it in a speech in the House of Commons and in a letter to Chaim Weizmann. It was also mentioned in the Passfield white paper, another important policy document.

At a meeting on June 9, 1930, the British representative, Drummond Shiels, explained Britain's goal. He said Britain wanted to help the two communities in Palestine live together peacefully.

The Permanent Mandates Commission agreed with Britain's approach. They stated that:

• The duties Britain had towards both groups of people were equally important.
• These two duties were not impossible to achieve at the same time.

Britain's government fully agreed with this statement. They were pleased that the League of Nations Council also approved it.

1937: "Contradictory Obligations"

Over time, it became very difficult to manage both responsibilities equally. By 1937, fifteen years after the Mandate began, the situation was very tense. The 1937 Palestine Royal Commission report, also known as the Peel Commission, was the first official proposal to divide the region.

This report described Britain's responsibilities as "contradictory obligations" or a "dual obligation." The Commission felt that the problems in Palestine were so deep that the only solution was a "surgical operation," meaning a drastic change like dividing the land.

1939: Unfinished Business

The Permanent Mandates Commission held its 36th meeting from June 8 to 29, 1939. They wrote a report for the League of Nations Council. However, the Council never officially discussed this report because World War II started in September 1939.

The Commission members had different opinions on Britain's policy, known as the 1939 White Paper.

• Four members felt that the policy did not follow the original rules of the Mandate.
• Three members thought that the current situation in Palestine might justify the policy, as long as the Council agreed.

Overall, the Commission concluded that the 1939 White Paper policy did not match how they and Britain had always understood the Palestine Mandate. Britain sent a letter on August 5, 1939, explaining why they disagreed with the Commission's findings.