SITUATION IN PALESTINE

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2303, 4 September 1929, Page 8

SITUATION IN PALESTINE

GETTING* QUIET AGAIN

ROME, STRAY FIGHTING

(Aust. and N.Z. Cable) (Official British Wireless.) (Received : Sept. 4. 2 p.m.) Rugby, Sept. 3

The Colonial Office'states that the situation in Palestine is reported generally to lie quiet

In the north, however, local incidents took place, with an attack on the police barracks at Stattin, eight, miles west of Tiberias during Sunday night, but it; was successfully repulsed. ,

Slight hand to hand fighting took place at Oesud llamala, north of Lake Tiberias, some arrests being made without casualties In the British troops. The general attitude of Hie transJordan tribes is stated to he satisfactory, with the exception of two small areas in tho north. COLLECTING EVIDENCE Instructions were issued some day o ago by the'’Palestine Government for the .collecting of evidence before -t disappeared as to whether tho disorders which commenced on August 23 were spontaneous or preconcerted. THE FIRM HAND In the meantime, while the British forces are actively co-operating with the Palestine Government in restoring order energetic steps are being taken by the civil authorities to bring to trial the guilty individuals. Many arrests have been made and considerable progress has already been made jn dealing with summary cases. Special measures are being taken to provide for an impartial tribunal to cope with what probably will be n. large number of eases. BRITISH ASSURANCES Geneva, Sept 3. Speaking before the League of Nations on the subject- of the Palestine disorders, Premier MacDonald repudiated the statement that it was a racial conflict. It was simply an inspiring of forces of disorder and so far as the British Goevmment was, concerned the disorder must be suppressed, whether it be caused by M oslems or Jews or Christians or non-Christians. No nation wi th a unpolitical responsibilities co-operating with other nations would ever yield to outbursts of disorder and criminality. He- appealed to the leadres ofthose people to unite to repair what had already been done. The first duty was to get the strife- ended and order restored. That had now practically been done. Tbe second duty was toinquire into all the circumstances and take steps to prevent a recurrence of disorders.