STRIFE IN PALESTINE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 October 1938, Page 7

STRIFE IN PALESTINE

ARABS INTENSIFYING CAMPAIGN ATTEMPTING TO FORCE DECISION DECLARATIONS BY OPPOSED FACTIONS. HOPELESSLY CONFLICTING CLAIMS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, October 11. The Jerusalem correspondent of the British United Press says the Arabs apparently are intensifying their activities in order to force a decisive result in a few weeks. An Arab spokesman, commenting on the ultimatum threatening the annihilation of the Jews, says: “We thought it fair to warn Dr Weizmann (President of the Zionist Federation) that he is arousing anti-Jewish feeling where British bayonets do not protect Jews.” He added that the suspension of talks between Dr Weizmann and Suwaidi was due to the former’s refusal to agree to stop Jewish migration to Palestine and to the permanence of a minority position. The General Council of Jews has sent a telegram to Dr Weizmann saying: “It is a vital misjudgment of the situation, to imagine that to deprive Jewry of the right to return to its ancient home will bring peace in Palestine.” The Jerusalem correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” reports that the surrender of authority in Palestine is unprecedented. The rebels dominate the entire south, and Government control is confined to the boundaries of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa. The military have reclaimed Bethlehem and Beersheba. The rebels hold Hebron, Ramallah, and most of the Nablus area. Magistrates’ courts sit in the courthouses of only six cities. All the records have been burnt. The rebels hold their own courts, dealing with appeals from Government, civil cases being occasionally impartial. The Jerusalem-Lydda railway has been abandoned. A tri-weekly armed daylight service has replaced the normal communication to Egypt, via Kantara.

Intimidation has compelled the disarmament of most of the Arab police in the employment of the traffic service. Eight thousand Anglo-Jewish police guard key points. Arab courts sentence those who fail to serve the Arab cause, but punish highway robbers.

The main cause of the collapse of Government authority is stated to be the failure to provide sufficient troops and police.

HIGH COMMISSIONER. RETURNING TO PALESTINE TOMORROW. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) RUGBY, October 11. It is understood that provisional arrangements have been made for Sir Morace Mac Michael to return to Palestine on Thursday. His conversations with Mr Malcolm MacDonald continued today.