British Mandatory Palestine, by The Colonial Office

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THE mandatory is responsible, inter alia, for carrying into effect the terms of the Balfour declaration of 2nd November, 1917, viz., “His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of that object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”

On 1st September, 1922, a constitution was promulgated. Under this constitution Palestine is governed by a High Commissioner, who is also the Commander-in-Chief, assisted by an Executive Council consisting of the Chief Secretary, the Attorney General, the Treasurer and Commissioner on Special Duty, and by an Advisory Council consisting of official members.

by The Colonial Office

From The Colonial Office List (1946).

Précis

The briefing went on to remind readers that one of the tasks of the Mandate was to keep the promises made in the Balfour Declaration of 1917, in which the Foreign Minister, Arthur Balfour, had undertaken on behalf of the Government to establish a homeland for persecuted Jewish people under the Mandate’s authority.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?

3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?

Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.

Précis

Questions for Critics

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