Churchill White Paper

The Churchill White Paper, issued in June 1922, clarified Britain's policy regarding the Balfour Declaration and the future of Palestine under the British mandate. It stated that Palestine as a whole would not become a Jewish national home, but rather such a home would be established within Palestine. The paper also stipulated that Jewish immigration would be limited by the country's economic capacity and that a legislative council would be formed.1

This document was a response to growing Arab opposition and fears that the Balfour Declaration, which expressed support for a national home for the Jewish people, would lead to Jewish domination. The Arab population, being the majority, desired independence and a government that reflected their numbers. The proposals in the White Paper were rejected by the Arabs because they felt they did not grant them sufficient political control and allowed for Jewish immigration with a political aim, regulated by economic factors.1