FLAG HALF=MASTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 May 1939, Page 5

FLAG HALF=MASTED

JEWISH FEELING AT FEVER HEAT. TROOPS SHOW GREAT RESTRAINT. JERUSALEM, May ,18. Antagonism. of the entire Jewish population’ against the White Paper proposals has been expressed since dawn in a series of ugly demonstrations and religious rites which police and troops are doing their utmost to prevent developing into serious clashes. Crowds gathered in the Jewish quarter early, booing and ironically cheering British and Arab traffic. Scenes of unprecedented fervour took place at the Wailing Wall where men and women mourned the “third destruction of the temple.” The Zionist flag was flown at halfmast at the leading Hebrew college while the / anthem “Hatikvah” was sung. The throng chanted a passage from psalm 137, “If I forget thee, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its cunning.” Jewish leaders ceaselessly exhorted the throng. Members of Jewish youth organisations marched through fjne streets in military formation carrying banners inscribed "We shall redeem Zion. We shall not permit betrayal.” After a long service at the principal synagogue a procession of bearded elders headed by Doctor Herzog marched through the city. The Rabbis carried the sacred rolls, many of which were saved from Germany and recited scriptures prophesying the return of Israel to its homeland. Jewish ex-servicemen wearing British war medals also demonstrated.

The British police showed great restraint in the face of continual insults. Hebrew newspapers appeared despite the strike, all giving prominence to pictures of Lord Balfour and his declaration promising a national home. Thousands marched in a most orderly fashion through the streets of Tel Aviv and converged on the stadium, where a mass meeting swore allegiance to the Jewish cause. ATTITUDE OF EGYPT REFUSAL TO APPROVE WHITE PAPER. ARAB COMMITTEE MEETING AT BAYREUTH. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) CAIRO. May 18. “The Government has notified Britain that it is unable to recommend the Arabs to accept the Palestine White Paper. Egypt thus joins Saudi Arabia and Iraq in disapproval of the British policy. The Higher Arab Committee is meeting at Beyrouth. the Grand Mufti presiding, to determine future action. The Wafdist Press describes the British White Paper as evasive, saying it contains no advantages for the Arabs I —only vague promises, conditional on restoration of order.