Triple Gambit

Smooth olive skin, enormous brown eyes, a close black beard and hennaed locks carefully plaited distinguish Emir Abdullah of Transjordania. Annoyed by torrid questions put to him by one of the few U. S. women he has ever received, His Highness answered coldly:

"To the desert Arab, the American or European woman is utterly devoid of charm. There is no mystery about her. She shows not only her thoughts but her bones!"

About 18 months ago the British Government, which holds Transjordania as a Mandate, gave Emir Abdullah for his very own an extremely fertile tract of 17,500 acres beside the River Jordan. Native opinion would never sanction the leasing of public lands to Jews, and the British Government has never attempted such a course, but private lands belonging to the Emir are a different matter. Last week Emir Abdullah granted a six-month option to lease his new lands to the Palestine Jewish Agency which has been barred by Palestine Moslems from obtaining further lands there. To Britain's accommodating Emir, the Jews will pay an annual rental of -L-2,000 ($10,000 at par, $6,700 today) for 33 years, with privilege of extending their lease for a total of 99 years.

So far as could be learned Transjordanians made no objection last week to the smart opening gambit of Britain-to-Emir-to-Jews.

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