Palestine Policy

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 118, 15 November 1945, Page 7

Palestine Policy

DISTURBANCES IN TEL AVIV

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

LONDON, November 14

Serious disturbances are reported by Reuter from Tel Aviv by large groups of Jews who were demonstrating against the new British policy.

* They set fire to Government offices by throwing blazing torches into them. Police who came up were stoned, and a number of Jewish constables were injured and had to be taken to hospital. There were clashes between crowds in the streets and mobile police in •which a number of people were injured. Military lorries were heavily stoned.

Crowds prevented the fire brigade from extinguishing fires, and later set fire to other buildings.

.When the correspondent sent off his dispatch two big fires were raging and shooting was going on outside his office.

A 12-hour strike began at noon, with all shops, restaurants, and factories closed, and no Jewish transport facilities working. Only Jewish 'employees in the Government, military, and essential services went to [work.

Both the Arabs and the Jews are not .enthusiastic over Mr. Bevin's statement on Palestine, says the Exchange (Telegraph agency's Jerusalem correspondent Arab leaders are not concealing their disappointment that the provisions of the White Paper are virtually scrapped in the British Government's new policy. The Jews feel that ithev have been let down, in that the .White Paper is maintained insofar as .the new policy requires Arab acquiescence for further Jewish immigration. The office of the Jewish Agency issued an interim, statement before meetings at which Jews will discuss issuing a statement expressing more considered views. The agency makes four points: (1) The Jewish problem is not limited to Europe, did not arise over Nazi persecutions, and is an agelong world problem; (2) freedom to return to Palestine is the inalienable right of every Jew; (3) the only solution of the twin problems of the Jewish people and Palestine is the reestablishment of a Jewish State; (4) "We" are always ready to co-operate swith the Arabs of Palestine in the development of the country for the benefit of all the inhabitants. We are convinced that a Jewish State will make for the prosperity and stability of the whole of the Middle East." The Jews' main objection to the British declaration concerns the statement on the retention of the immigration rate at 1500 a month, says Reuters correspondent. They suggest that this is inadequate in view of the large number of Jews who wish to leave Europe. ACTION BY JEWRY. The correspondent sums up the action being taken by official Jewry, in addition to the 12-hour strike, as follows: The Jewish Agency has urgently cabled the members of the executive in Britain and America telling them to hasten back to Palestine; Dr. Bernard Joseph, acting head of the agency's political department, announced that the agency is calling a meeting at the beginning of next week of the inner Zionist Council at Jerusalem; an extraordinary session of the Jewish elected assembly is to be held on November 19; the chief rabbis have ordered a day of fasting and prayer on November 15, when the ram shorn reserved for special occasions will be blown during synagogue services. # • A curfew which was self-imposed in conjunction with the strike will be lifted to permit of the holding of protest meetings and demonstrations. _ Mr. J. V. Shaw, the officer administering Palestine, visited the Emir Abdullah of Transjordan yesterday and presented him with the new proposals. Later he attfended separate meetings of Arab and Jewish leaders and read them the text of Mr. Bevin's statement in the House of Commons. When Mr. Shaw told a Jewish delegation, about Mr. Bevin's statement, Dr. Joseph said it would cause bitter disappointment to the Jewish people. They would, never submit to it. An illegal radio station in Jerusalem which is operated by the Jewish Hagana organisation, called on Jews in Palestine and abroad to begin active resistance against the policy, condemn ing the Jewish national effort in 'Palestine to stagnation.

Six hundred Hebrew university students in Jerusalem passed a resolution stating that they were ready to be called out at any moment to fight for the elementary rights of the Jewish people. The illegal radio, continuing the tirade against Mr. Bevin, said: "What Hitler did in the murderous blitz against the Jewish people is now. being repeated by the democracies. We are condemned to live in an intolerable ghetto in order not to deprive Europe of its Jewish talents."

ARAB OBJECTION.

The Arab point of view, says Reuters correspondent, is that the plan does not allay fears that the ultimate aim in Palestine is the establishment of a Jewish national home. The Arab newspaper "Al Difaa" said that the new policy closed the door to the aspirations of the Palestine Arabs for eventual independence and membership of the Arab League, whose policy has been further weakened by the inclusion of America, and is "open to enemy Arabs." Dr. Khalidi, leader of the Palestine Arab Reform Party, stated: "I accuse the British Government of breaking its promise in the White Paper. It seems to me that the ultimate aim of the new policy is the creation of a Jewish State." Reuters Cairo correspondent says that Mr. Bevin's statement .has been sent to all the Arab States, where it is being examined. Neither .the Egyptian nor the Arab leaders were prepared to comment on the statement. It is the general impression that they are disappointed. Consultations will start in Washington and London without delay to select the British-American committee of inquiry on Palestine, says the /"Daily Mail's" diplomatic correspondent. The committee will consist of at least 20 members, 10 of whom will be from each country. All parties in the House of Commons will be represented in the British delegation. It is assumed in London that Republicans as well as Democrats will be invited to serve on the American delegation. Each country will nominate a chairman to preside in rotation. .. _ _ Cabinet will select an administrator of wide experience in Empire affairs as the chairman of the British delegation. It is the present desire of the British Government that the committee should be of such size that it could be divided into several sub-committees to which specific investigations could be allotted.