PALESTINE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19719, 9 September 1929, Page 9

PALESTINE.

THE BRITISH MANDATE. STATEMENT BEFORE LEAGUE. (BBITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, September 6. At the meeting of the League of Nations Council at Geneva, M. 11. J. Procop6, Finnish Foreign Minister, who reported on mandates, referred to the disturbances in Palestine, and said that the Council being indirectly responsible for the welfare of the inhabitants of Palestine, they were anxious that the British representative should enlighten them, as far as possible. Mr Arthur Henderson, British Foreign Secretary, said that the British Government regarded the Mandate for Palestine in the light of a trusteeship, and he thought that the Prime Minister, in his speech, fully expressed the British Government's regret at the disturbances. Although order had now been almost completely restored, it was difficult to give any definite explanation of the circumstances in which the disturbances began. The situation was now well in hand. Mr Henderson laid emphasis* on the fact that martial law had never been resorted to. "My Government," he said, "have already issued a statement showing what steps have been taken to ascertain the immediate causes of the dispute, and a commission under Sir Walter Shaw is being organised for this purpose. * I may remind you that a declaration as to its policy in Palestine has already been issued by my Government, and it is fully prepared to observe all its obligations under the Mandate. The enquiry instituted is for the immediate needs of the situation, and will not extend to any questions of major policy." COLONIAL OFFICE REPORT. RUGBY, September 6. The Colonial Office states that the situation in Palestine is reported to be quiet in all districts. The British forces are actively employed in searching for hidden arms and apprehending suspected persons. In the Safed and Haifa districts the Jewish colonies are being reoccupied. There is no confirmation of the unofficial reports which have been circulated to the effect that an engagement has taken place at Gaza, in which British forces were alleged to have been in action against Bedouins from Sinai Peninsula, and to have suffered heavy losses. On the contrary, later official reports from the same area indicate that all is quiot there. MOSLEM PROTEST TO LEAGUE. (UNITED MESS ASSOCIATION—BI ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—-COPYRIGHT.) JERUSALEM, September 6. The Supreme Moslem Executive Committee has resolved to protest against the alleged bias of Sir John Chancellor's proclamation. This protest is being forwarded to the Mandates Committee of the League of Nations, and also to the Dominions Office. Two influential emissaries will deliver the latter protest. —Australian Press Association.