2. Question. How have waste lands been defined and delimited?

3. Question.-What measures have been taken for the registra

VI.-NATIONALITY (Article 7).

1. Question. What is the text of the nationality law?

Answer.-An Order in Council concerning Palestinian Nationality is now under consideration.

2. Question.-Have special provisions been enacted, framed so as to facilitate the acquisition of Palestinian citizenship by Jews?

Answer. (See above.)

VII.--JUDICIAL SYSTEM (Articles 8, 9 and 10).

1. Question. When did the new judicial organisation begin to operate?

Answer. The Palestine Order in Council, Part V, comprises sections dealing with judicial organisation, but many detailed changes to be introduced in the existing system in accordance with its terms have not yet come into operation. It will be necessary

for an Ordinance to be passed reconstituting the High Courts whose functions and powers are modified in certain measures. Legislation to this end is now under consideration.

2. Question. What special features does it include with a view to assuring to foreigners as well as to natives a complete guarantee of their rights as laid down in Article 9?

3. Question.-What special measures have been taken to assure respect for the personal status of various peoples and communities, and for their religious interests?

4. Question.-How have the control and administration of Wakfs been assured?

5. Question. What extradition agreements have been made between the Mandatory and other foreign Powers since the coming into force of the mandate?

Answer. Extradition Agreements.-Two provisional extradition agreements have been made by the High Commissioner for Palestine. The first was made in July, 1921, with the High Commissioner for Syria, and states in the preamble that it is to be replaced subsequently by a definite arrangement to be made between the two Governments. The parties undertake to surrender reciprocally any person who is prosecuted, or who has been condemned for an offence, against the Civil or Military Law in force, committed on the territory of the other party, provided that the act is punishable with at least one year's imprisonment, or the sentence is at least one year's imprisonment. The person surrendered may only be tried for the offence in respect of which application for extradition was made, and extradition will not be granted for a political offence.

Excluded from that category are :—

(a) Any act of violence or brigandage, whether committed by a single person or by a band either against individuals, or against the local authorities, or against the railways or other means of communication,

(b) Any attempt against the person of the High Commissioner or the head of the Government, or any member of their families.

The procedure for extradition requires the application to be considered by a British or a French official, respectively. In the case of an application made to the Palestine Government, if the person to be extradited is a Palestinian, or a foreign subject, the charge is to be examined judicially before the order for surrender can be made.

The second agreement was made with the Egyptian Government, and is similar in its terms, except that it applies only in respect of persons who, under the legislation for the time being in force in Egypt would, if in Egypt, be subject to the criminal jurisdiction of an Egyptian Court. In consequence, neither the Egyptian nor the Palestine Government can apply for the extradition of a foreign subject.

VIII.-ECONOMIC EQUALITY (Articles 11 and 18).

1. Question. How have the interests of the community been safeguarded in the execution of measures taken to secure the development of the country in respect of public ownership or control of any of the natural resources of the country, or of the public works, services and utilities?

Answer. The whole of the railway system in Palestine has been brought under public ownership; the water supply of Jerusalem, which is the only town in which a general installation of water has been established, has been taken over by the Municipality from the Public Works Department of the Government, which had administered, and in many directions improved, it since the Civil Administration came into being; and the tobacco monopoly has been discontinued. Further, a mining policy designed to secure full Government control of mineral resources is now under consideration.

For further reference, see:—

Palestine Order in Council, Sections 12 and 13.

2. Question. Has it been found necessary to arrange with the Jewish agency to construct or operate any public works, services and utilities, or to develop any of the natural resources of the country, and if so, under what circumstances?

Answer:

Construction and operation of public works, etc., in conjunction with the Jewish Agency.

In no case has any arrangement been made directly with the Jewish Agency to construct or operate any public works or to develop any of the natural resources of the country; it is, however, a term of the projected concession to Mr. Rutenberg for generation of electrical energy from the Jordan that the constitution of the company which will operate the concession shall be subject to the approval of the High Commissioner in agreement with the Jewish Agency.

The Zionist Committee advanced to the Government the sum of E.15,000 for the purpose of constructing a highway from the Jaffa-Jerusalem road to the Jewish villages of Rishon le Zion and Rehobot. The Government was to repay that sum within three years of its being received, or earlier at the discretion of the Government; the villages undertake to repay to the Government £E.5,000 in 10 yearly instalments of £E.500 each. No interest is payable by the Government on the loan.

3. Question. Give a complete list of concessions and the names and nationalities of the concession holders.

Answer.-Particulars of the concessions granted are

follows:

as

(1) Concessions for the provision and supply of electrical energy for lighting and power purposes, and for irrigation in the district of Jaffa. Concessionaires : The Jaffa Electric Company, Limited, a Palestine Company.

(2) An agreement to grant a concession for the generation of electricity by means of water power derived from the Rivers Jordan and Yarmuk, and for its distribution throughout Palestine, was concluded with Mr. Pinhas Rutenberg, a Russian subject, in 1921. A Palestine Company, the Palestine Electric Corporation, has been formed, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, to operate the concession, and it is anticipated that the concession will be granted at an early date.

(3) An agreement for the grant of a concession for the drainage of Lake Huleh, and for the reclamation and irrigation of certain lands in and in the vicinity of the Lake has been concluded with the Syro-Ottoman Agricultural Company, Limited.

This agreement replaces a concession granted by the Turkish Government in the year 1914. The actual concession will be granted if the Syro-Ottoman Agricultural Company, Limited, fulfils certain conditions, including the formation of a British or Palestine Company, to carry out the concession.