REPRESSING TERRORISM

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 234, 2 October 1937, Page 8

REPRESSING TERRORISM

"If one thing stands out clear from the record of the Mandatory administration," said the Royal Commission on Palestine, "it is tho leniency with which Arab political agitation, even when carried to the point of violence and murder, was treated." That was a grave indictment, though not the only one in tlie report. "It is evident," said the Commission, "that the elementary duty of providing public security has not been discharged." Jn the cabled news to-day there is evidence that the Administration is now resolved to dischargo that "elementary duty." Following a recrudescence of terrorism, the Administration has declared the Arab Higher Committee illegal, deprived the Grand Mufti jot" his office, and arrested a number of I leading Arabs, who are to be deported. There can be no doubt that these stern measures arc necessary if the Administration is to dischargo its "elementary duty," though it is to be feared that they will make even more difficult tho task of bringing about a permanent settlement of the Palestine problem. But the consequences of continual weakness in dealing with terrorism would not have been confined to Palestine. If one British administration could be defied, the lesson would be learned and applied in other lands. I