Correctly observing that the vast majority of Palestinian Arab peasants were trapped in debt with interest rates between 30% and 70%, this British civil servant suggested establishing agricultural cooperatives. But neither Arab leaders nor British bureaucrats wanted to provide the funding. For the duration of the Mandate, the Palestinian peasant remained hard-working, sullen and impoverished.
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[1] In one hill village my explanation of a society’s working was greeted by a peasant, an old soldier, with the remark, “That is like societies I have seen in Romania. They are very good”.
[2] There have in the past been defaults in payment, and a sum of ₤45,000 is still outstanding. Much of this is said to date from the years immediately after the war, when animals in poor condition were bought from the Army and failed to survive. Later defaults have been less frequent, and there is no reason to anticipate serious trouble in future.
[3] Studies in European Cooperation, Volume II: Government Press, Lahore.
[4] See the section on Consolidation of Holdings in my Studies in European Cooperation, Volume II.
