REPORTS OF TRUCE IN PALESTINE

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5297, 9 January 1947, Page 5

REPORTS OF TRUCE IN PALESTINE

(Press Assn-

DITERRDGATIONS END i— martial law decision in abeyance

- Rec . 9.S0 p.m.)

LONDON, Jan. 8, Reports were circulating in Jerusalem last night that a truce had beep agreed upon \ y the Irgun Zvai Leumi and the Stern Gang. The Times corresporident in the city says the reports must be treated circumspectly, but should not ? e ignored. A truce would JAake the work of the administ ration much easier. The reports of searches and1 interro'vatfions which were begun after the flogging of British soldiers nine days apo, have now; been completed. „A comparatively small number of te:rorists has been caught and small amounts of arms discovered. Tbe object of the search was necessary to sh ~)\v that the British Army could not be mocked. If the administration ha 1 "not acted, .it is declared, then the tr cops themselves would have done so.The Cabinet will not make a definite decision on the imposition of mart'al law in Palestine until LieutenantGeneral Sir Alan Cunningham returns for further talks with officers on the spot, says Reuter's. Meanwhlile, Ci 'cinet discussions will be confined to means of inducing the Jews to partieipate in the London conference on January 21. Reuter's Jerusalem correspondent says the radio Yoice of Israel announced that any attempts to impose martial law in Palestine would have opposite results to those sought, by increaqi.ng tension and terrorism. The head of the Jowish News Agency political department, Mr. Moshe Sherton, said the Zionist4 Congress decision not to attend the London conference was reached because the conference had become linked in the public mind with the so-called Morrison scheme, which the Zionists regarded unfavourablly. Furthermore, the conference was not beii^g heldwith a view to jews and Arahs sit- , ting around the same table." There-' f ore, the Zionists considered the Brit- . ish Government would have to make its own decision on Palestine.