UNIFIED FRONT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20208, 29 March 1940, Page 5

UNIFIED FRONT

THE MIDDLE EAST GERMANY OPPOSED CHECK TO AGGRESSION ALLIED ARMIES READY NATIONS’ PEACEFULNESS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Mar. 27. Broadcasting on Wednesday evening, Lord Samuel gave the impressions he gathered during his recent visit to the Middle* East. He described the countries he had visited as being more at peace now than in peace time. In all —Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Palestine, Cyprus, Syria, Iraq and The Hejaz— every section of the community was of one mind in their determination that no aggressive totalitarian State should obtain a controlling influence in the

Eastern Mediterranean, he said. Rulers and ruled alike were against Germany and were anxious not to do anything to hinder the French-British war efforts. Speaking of the armies assembled by the Allies in the Middle East, Lord Samuel described them as British, French, Australian and New Zealand troops in great strength, distributed in great camps from the western frontiers of Egypt to the Turkish border, ready, by using the excellent roads, to meet any eventualities which might occur. Truce in Controversies Dealing with individual countries, Lord Samuel said that the serious controversies between the Greek Cypriots and the British Government, which for years existed in Cyprus, had now been superceded by a definite truce, and he found the chief grievance advanced was the [smallness of the number of Cypriot 'volunteers the British Army would accept. Of Palestine he said: “You will recall that a year ago the whole country was gravely disturbed. There were bomb outrages, assassinations, train Wreckings, transport had* almost ■stopped, Government administration could not function at all in most of the country districts, and disturbances grew to the dimensions of a rebellion. Now everything is completely changed. There have been no serious butrages for a long time. One can travel freely without danger throughout the country. There are a few outlaws still roaming in the hills, so that night travel on the roads is still prohibited. But the police are in full control, and Government officials are at their posts everywhere. Except in one or two places, Arabs and Jews are mixing freely—they work side by side in the same employments, they do business together as before and neighbouring villages are again friendly. Arab-Jewish Feelings

“Although the war has helped to bring this about,” he continued, “it is a mistake to think that it has been the principal cause.” The disturbances. Lord Samuel pointed out, had almost ceased weeks before war began, when the army’s very effective measures had protected Arab villages from terrorists, broken up bands and arrested their leaders. The Government’s policy, the London political conference, and the advice of neighbouring Moslem rulers continued the trend towards tranquility which had been concluded by the outbreak of war.” “Both Arabs and Jews would regard a British defeat and a Nazi victory as the greatest disaster,” said Lord Samuel. “Common trial compels a truce.” Speaking of the recent inroduction of the restrictions on the sale and purchase of land, which had been announced since he left Palestine, Lord Samuel said: “To this there is vehement opposition. Political controversy has been stirred up afresh. But it is probable the opposition will be pressed by constitutional means. Certainly the Jewish population of Palestine, now numbering 500,000, including 70,000 refugees from Germany and a living example of the results of cruel Nazi persecution, would be the last people in the world to embarrass, In however small a degree, the British Empire in its life-and-death struggle with Hitlerism.” New Oil Refinery Cyprus, and to some extent Palestine, had suffered loss of trade by reason of shipping being diverted from fruit carrying to military usd, he said. He recounted that he had seen oranges for sale in the Cyprus markets at 24 a Id. Palestine, however, had benefited by the great new refinery being erected at a cost of £5,000,000 to deal with oil pumped by pipeline 600 miles across the desert from Iraq. Turning , finally to Egyp f , Lord Samuel said that here high cotton prices were bringing prosperity, and he paid a tribute to ’’the wholehearted way in which the Egyptian Government and the local authorities are co-operating in the military measures of the British Ally.” Concluding, he said: “But it is well to remember that in all these countries political problems are still there and still unsolved, to be dealt with some day. Particularly is that so in Palestine. It may be the better atmosphere now prevailing may make the solution easier. To predict is impossible, but we may at least allow ourselves the hope that it will prove to be so.£