montelatici, et al,
Yes, there was confusion even then. But, the following year, (1920) while the territory was still under the Enemy Occupied Territory Administration, the Allied Powers met at San Remo and hammered out the structure of the Mandate. While it was not the final last word on the subject, it certainly went a slightly different direction.
As for self-determination for the native inhabitants, the British were intent on repressing self-determination of the native Muslims and Christians This was made clear with the Balfour memo to Lord Curzon in 1919, before the Mandate was even implemented.
"For in Palestine we do not propose even to go through the form of consulting the wishes of the present inhabitants of the country, though the American [King-Crane] Commission has been going through the form of asking what they are. The four great powers are committed to Zionism and Zionism, be it right or wrong, good or bad, is rooted in age-long tradition, in present needs, in future hopes, of far profounder import than the desires and prejudices of the 700,000 Arabs who now inhabit that ancient land...."
Christopher Sykes, Crossroads to Israel, 1917-1948 (1965; reprinted Bloomington, Ind
(COMMENT)
But, again, I do not think it makes much different now. The Israel People are not about to let the International Community place their established National Home in the hand of a corrupt and radicalized Hostile Arab Palestinian failed state.
I don't think that the International Community is going to go to war over the West Bank and Gaza Strip --- any more than they might go to war over the Crimea or Tibet.
So far, no one has really started to address what it would need to keep the sovereign integrity of Israel intact and yet, --- drag the Arab Palestinians of the West Bank and Gaza Strip out of the muck and mire.
All anyone
(particularly the anti-Israeli Camp) is talking about is a continuation of the conflict. And disputes on who is entitled to what. No one is talking on the level of Posting #315, and the moves it would take to appease some of the Arab Palestinian demands. Or how to avoid the consequences of violent and corrupt Arab Palestinians that are choking the life out of the country.
Most Respectfully,
R