British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 211

CHAPTER VII.

For example, a crop failure in the Hauran may lead to a movement into Palestine, almost entirely masculine in character, so that the migrants may acquire funds with which to recoup their losses and, on return to their own villages, invest in their normal agricultural pursuits. Conversely, if grazing conditions in Sinai are more favourable than in Palestine there will be an outward movement of the Beersheba Beduins. Similarly the 'boom' conditions in Palestine in the years 1934-1936 led to an inward movement into Palestine particularly from Syria. The depression due to the state of public disorder during 1936-1939 led to the return of these people and also to a substantial outward movement of Palestinian Arabs who thought it prudent to live for a time in the Lebanon and in Syria.

56. That each movement of this kind may lead to a residue of illegal permanent settlers is possible, but, if the residue were of significant size, it would be reflected in systematic disturbances of the rates of Arab vital occurrences. No such systematic disturbances are observed. It is sometimes alleged that the high rate of Arab natural increase is due to a large concealed immigration from the neighbouring countries. This is an erroneous inference. Researches reveal that the high rate of fertility of the Moslem Arab woman has remained unchanged for half a century. The low rate of Arab natural increase before 1914 was caused by

(a) the removal in significant numbers of men in the early nubile years for military service in other parts of the Ottoman Empire, many of whom never returned and others of whom returned in the late years of life; and

(b) the lack of effective control of endemic and epidemic diseases that in those years led to high mortality rates.

57. There are two other current misconceptions about the entry of Arabs into Palestine.

The first relates to the conditions under which an inhabitant of Trans-Jordan may be admitted to this country. Section 4(2) of the Immigration Ordinance, 1941, is as follows:-

"Persons habitually resident in Trans-Jordan may, unless the High Commissioner shall otherwise direct, enter Palestine direct from Trans-Jordan although they are not in possession of passports or other similar documents:

Provided that such persons shall only enter Palestine either as immigrants or as travellers or as temporary labourers within the meaning of this Ordinance. 11

In April, 1939, however, the High Commissioner, using the powers granted to him by section 412), ordered that all persons

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