“ARAB MISSION”

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 14, 21 August 1946, Page 5

“ARAB MISSION”

SYDNEY HOAXED ... ■ STUDENTS PLAY AGAIN £ The foolery and frolicking that accompanied the induction of freshers to the Sydney University before the war have returned with startling suddenness. Three students disguised as Arabs hoaxed the fashionable and?expensive Prince’s Restaurant; two students went through the actions of fishing iff Martin Palace, business thoroughfare in the city; and others planted two pine trees, one seven feet tall, in front * of Queen Victoria’s statue in Queen’s Square in a busy part of the city. The three students who went to~ Prince’s were in full Arab dress, had their faces made up, and wore false beards. As they swept magnificently into the foyer a hushed restaurant saw waiters escort them to their table, which they had reserved. The “Arabs,” said they were “members of thd Iranian Barter Commission”—Mahomed Achmed, Commissioner First Class; Jaffar Ibid, assistant to the Commissioner; and Abdul Mahsin, secretary to the Commissioner. French, Arabic, English ' Guests visited the “Arabs’ table after women friends had suggested it would .be “nice to meet real sheiks.” Press photographers’ globes flashed. Many people tried to get; into the pictures. The “Arabs” clapped hands for waiters, and received prompt service. They talked in French. A city businessman who visited the table and had a long conversation with the “Commission- * er” said he had met him in London 14 months ago. ‘‘l knew him as soon as he walked in,” the businessman told admiring friends. “He’s such *a striking-looking fellow. He remembered me, and he’ll be just as popular in Australia as he was in London. I ffiave never met the others., men, but they seem just as nice; ? *s^'

Two returned soldiers,' who began speaking Digger Arabic to the members of the “Barter Commission,” were answered in Arabic by Abdul, who suggested it might be easier if all spoke English. '

A Press “hand-out” on the aim of the Commission’s visit was given out. It said: “Some weeks ago we left Bander Abas —proceeded to Bombay. There we secured transport on the Samedan and* eventually landed in Perth. Went on to Melbourne, where we disembarked and, after a very brief stay with some friends, travelled slowly towards Sydney by car, arriving on Monday night at Griffith, where we''stayed with Mr Peter Granville, of the Fresco Farming Co. Our purpose in staying in this district ,■ is to study modern rice-growing principles, and during our stay in Australia we hope to arrange for the purchase of a great deal of agricultural machinery with which to establish a similar rice crop in Iran. “In exchange, we offer dates, carpets, tapestries, and oil concessions, and, should capital be required, we propose raising part of the royalties we receive each year from the Turkish Petroleum Company. We consider this moment, when food everywhere is scarce, when the English-speaking nations have completely dominated the world, and—more particularly—when the Australian pound has been greatly devalued, the right one to seek trade in Australia.”

The hoax was a ritual required for their induction to St. Paul’s College.

The students who fished in Mar-, tin Place were watched by a huge crowd.

They dangled shark-hooks over an iron-railed excavation in the middle of the roadway until police moved them on. Asked a bystander: “Have you caught anything yet?” Replied one of the fishermen: “Yes* you—and you’re the ninety-ninth bite.”