IN PALESTINE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20822, 5 June 1939, Page 8

IN PALESTINE

PATROL SHOT DEAD EXPLOSIONS IN JERUSALEM JEWS STONED BY' ARABS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; LONDON. June 2 An Arab gang shot dead all the members of a railway patrol, consisting of four British constables and three Jewish supernumeraries, near Kawkilieh, 35 miles north-west of Jerusalem. The pang captured the patrol’s machine-guns and ritles. Six Arabs were killed, five seriously wounded and 15 slightly injured by a bomb thrown among buses at the Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem. Three more bombs were thrown in the main streets, completing the disruption of the telephone system. Nearly every line in the city has been put out of order by a scries of explosions in the main underground conduits, due to sabotage. In the course of rioting after the bombing, which wrecked a wide area, Arabs stonned Jewish traffic and the police ordered the Jews to close their shops. Step Toward Self-government Discussing the latest step toward self-government, which has resulted from the agreement reached in London in the negotiations with the Chief Minister of Transjordan while the Palestine Conference was at work, the Jerusalem correspondent of the Times says it has been warmly welcomed in Transjordan. It is regarded as a sign of confidence reposed in the Emir by Britain and as proof of the soundness of the foundation laid by LieutenantColonel Sir Henry Cox, who is about to retire after 15 years’ service as British Resident. Sir Henry’s successor, Mr A. S. Kirkbridge, has already entered upon his new r duties. In future, the Emir, instead of having an Executive Council with advisory powers, will exercise authority through a council composed of heads of departments responsible to himself. Legislative power is vested in a council of 16 members elected by universal manhood suffrage. Nine of them are Moslem Arabs, three Christian Arabs, two Circassians, and two Beduin, and the Chief Minister and heads of departments.