VIOLENT ACTS IN PALESTINE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24713, 2 November 1945, Page 5

VIOLENT ACTS IN PALESTINE

Railway Lines Cut In 50_Places ATTACKS ON HARBOURS ' (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 1.10 a.m.) JERUSALEM. Nov. 1. British Headquarters states that systematic attacks against railway communications in Palestine early this morning resulted in four deaths and injuries to at least 10 persons. Railway lines were cut'in 50 places. Attacks were also carried out in the harbours of Haifa and Jaffa, resulting in the sinking of one police launch and serious damage to two launches anchored at Haifa. It is officially stated that Jewish terrorists were responsible for the attacks against the railways. The killed included a British soldier and a Palestinian policeman. Five armed Jews were arrested after a train was held up between Jerusalem and Lydda by armed, uniformed men. The police tracked down, a number of men and captured them after a-gun duel. _ A violent explosion at midnight damaged the railway station parcels office in Jerusalem. Reuter's correspondent says the explosion was caused by a bomb? which was apparently sent through the railway parcels service, and timed to explode simultaneously with other parcelled bombs at Haifa and elsewhere throughout the country. Another heavy explosion occurred in the early hours at Consolidated Refineries. ' A body was found beneath the rubble. One of the heaviest attacks against the railway installations was made on Lydda station. A signal box, a train, and three locomotives were badly damaged. An engine-shed was set on fire and engines in the yard were mined. PROBLEM OF PALESTINE EVENTUAL WORLD TRUSTEESHIP REPORTED BRITISH PLAN (Rec. 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 1. "The British Government has evolved a plan for an eventual world trusteeship for Palestine," says the "Daily Telegraph." "Britain and America agree on policy in general, although many points of detail remain to be discussed. Some will be settled when Mr Attlee and President Truman meet in Washington about November 10. "Mr Bevin (British Foreign Secretary) is to make a statement in the House of Commons in the near future, but he will be unable to deal with the subject in detail. The full statement must await final agreement between Britain and America. The British and American Governments are equally alive to the fact that, far more is involved than the problem of settling in Palestine, or elsewhere, Jews whom the war has rendered homeless." A message from Cairo says that Assam Bey (secretary-general of the Arab League), in a statement, demanded an immediate stop to Jewish immigration. He denied that, while he was in London, he agreed with the British Government that Jewish immigration to Palestine should be limited to 2000 a month. Assam Bey .added that he wanted the British Government to delay decision on Palestine for at least six months. "Any decisions now would be unfavourable to the Arabs," he said. He contended that the Palestine question was local, whereas the whole of the Jewish question was international in scope. He did not favour turning over the Palestine question to .a United Nations committee because it would "be difficult to convince the American Republics of the Arab viewpoint. He claimed that the Arab League was so large that the world must be aware of it, even though it might at present be financially weak. Earlier: it was reported that Assam Bey was in 'an optimistic mood when a session of the Arab League Council opened yesterday. "I am never pessimistic," he said, when questioned about reports "from Palestine which are the main item on the agenda. "In London I found men with principles, and I feel sure they understand our case better now." Elaborate precautions are being taken to protect the delegates. BRITISH TROOPS IN EGYPT TALKS ON EVACUATION (Kec. 5:5 p.m.) - CAIRO, October 31. The Prime Minister of Egypt '(Nokrashy Pasha) has announced that he discussed the evacuation of British troops from Egypt' with. the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (FieldMarshal Lord Alan Brooke). He said they had a long conversation on questions of interest to both countries, and the atmosphere was most cordial.

NEW PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL PROMISE TO RESIGN (Rec. 5.5) RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 31. Senhor Jose Linhares, after taking the oath as President of Brazil, said that a General Election would definitely be held on December 2. He would govern the country as a jurist until the new elected President took office. No political erisoners were taken during the change-over, and it is stated that there is no thought of taking any in the future; The deposed President (Dr. Vargas) will fly to his home in southern Brazil to-morrow. INDUSTRIAL PEACE CONFERENCE ACTION BY AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT (Rec. 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 1. The Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) has agreed to call at an early date an Australian-wide "peace in. industry conference," representative of.all employers and employees, to discuss generally the question of unrest in industry. Announcing this, the Minister of Labour and National Service (Mr E. J. Holloway) said the conference would be thoroughly representative of the trade union movement and all industries. The Government desired all the states to be represented. All matters causing industrial unrest would be discussed. The parties would, doubtless, raise the 40-hour week question, the basic wage, loadings, and bonuses. The date of the conference has yet to be fixed. Meanwhile, strikes continue seriously to hamper industry. No settlement of the dispute at the Broken Hill Company's steel works.in Newcastle is yet in sight. The coal loss to-day at the eight idle New South Wales mines is 5310 tons.- Seven thousand men are still out on strike at the Port Kembla ironworks. The eight weeks' old commercial printers' strike involves 4000 men. About 100 cold storage workers at the Homebush abattoirs have gone on strike because service labour is being employed. ' It is officially stated that urgent requirements for troops in the islands and meat for Britain could not be held up, and about 70 Army and naval personnel are working at the abattoirs to keep the service requirements normal.