Palestine Terrorism Cannot Be Tolerated

Chronicle (Levin), 2 July 1946, Page 5

Palestine Terrorism Cannot Be Tolerated

Press Assn.

MR. ATTLEE'S STATEMENT '

By Telegraph

-Covyright

Received Tuesday, 10.45 a.m. 1 LONDON, July 1. In a statement in the House of i Commons to-day, Mr. Attlee said it had become Increasingly clear in recent months that the acts of terrorism and sabotage in Palestine were part of a concerted plan, prepared and* executed by highly- : developed military organisations, with wide ramifications throughout the country. The Jev/ish Agency had been re- . peatedly warned of the gravity of the development of disorder, con- , tinued Mr. Attlee, and that they constituted a danger to world peace ; and ought not to continue. Despite the warning there had been a recruaescence of terrorist aetivity, 1 and the campaign of violence since pecember had caused the death of sixteen British soldiers and five policemen, including seven soldiers murdered in cold blood in Tel Aviv. Material damage had exceeded £4,000,000. "VJe have a mandatory duty to maintain law and order," declared he Prime Minister, "and we can no longer tolerate this challenge to our authority without abdicating the responsibility." (Cheers). Mr. Attlee told the House that of he 2000 Jews detained, a number vould be released after an examinition was completed. A vast mount of arms, ammunition and xplosives had already been found. These operations were not directed igainst the Jewish community as a whole, but were solely against those vho had taken an active part in the ampaign of violence, and those in--tigating • or directing it. It was not the Government's intention to ' lose or proscribe the agency. The Government would not tolerite any attempts by any party to nfluence the position by force, Mr. 'Attlee concluded. The Government ntended to persevere with its atempts to arrive at a settlement on he lines of the Anglo-American lommission's report, and a number of Americans would shortly arrive in Britain to participate in discussions with experts.