British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 44. January - August, 1938 , The Royal Commission, the Partition Commission, and the White Paper of May, 1939.

CHAPTER II.

the decision of His Majesty's Government to send to Palestine a technical Commission whose functions would be "confined to ascertaining facts and to considering in detail the practical possibilities of a scheme of partition". The detailed terms of reference of the Commission were given. In this despatch the Secretary of State stated that he wished to make it clear that His Majesty's Government were in no sense committed to approval of the particular plan of partition tentatively proposed by the Royal Commission and "in particular that they have not accepted the Commission's proposals for the compulsory transfer in the last resort of Arabs from the Jewish to the Arab area". He added that, if, as a result of the investigation of the technical commission, a scheme of partition is regarded as equitable and practicable by His Majesty's Government, it will be referred to the Council of the League for consideration.

1st March, 1938.

General Sir Arthur Wauchope left Palestine and his successor, Sir Harold MacMichael, arrived two days later.

27th April, 1938.

The Partition Commission, under the chairmanship of Sir John Woodhead, arrived in Palestine and stayed until 3rd August. No Arab witnesses came forward.

May, 1938.

General Wavell was succeeded by General Raining as General Officer Commanding.

6th August, 1938.

The Secretary of State (Mr. Malcolm MacDonald) came to Jerusalem for discussions with the High Commissioner and the General Officer Commanding.

During 1938 the Arab campaign of murder and sabotage gathered strength: gang warfare was gradually developed in the hills on organized lines and was accompanied by increased terrorism in the towns; the roads became unsafe for use and the economic and social life of the country was seriously disrupted. The campaign received its momentum from the political leaders who bad found refuge in Syria, the Lebanon and Iraq and from their supporters in those countries; arms and money were smuggled across the frontiers into Palestine, and gangsters and assassins were recruited, equipped and issued with instructions by rebel organizations

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