PALESTINE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 220, 3 September 1929, Page 5

PALESTINE

GENERAL SITUATION QUIET FURTHER AIRCRAFT DEMONSTRATIONS. TOTAL CASUALTIES TO DATE. [British Official Wireless.! (Received 3, 10.52 a.m.) Rug»y, Sept. 1. The Colonial Office stales that the country north or Sated is inclined to be restless, but in other districts the situation is reported generally quiet. Yesterday demonstration bights were carried out in strength by aircraft over the north and northeastern areas of Palestine, where armed bands of Arabs were still reported as crossing from Syria. A proclamation by trie High Commissioner for Palestine and TransJordania was distributed over the Jerusalem area by aircraft. The following are the total casualties up to 31st August:— Killed or died ot wounds; Moslems 83, Christians 4, Jews 109. Wounded in hospital: Moslems 122, Christians 10, Jews 183. EGYPTIAN KING’S FRIENDLINESS. [United Press Association—B.v Cable— Copyright.l [Australian ami N.Z. Press Association.' (Received 3, 10.30 a.m.) London, Sept. 2. “Ibn Saud is essentially a friend of Britain and will never attempt to create further difficulties in Palestine or elsewhere,” stated Shiek Wasba and Privy Councillor Kinchedjaz when interviewed in London. Wasba added that Ibn Saud would not countenance anti-Jewish or other similar movements. The King de'sired Christianity. He had faith in British justice and believed that Britain would evenly hold the balance between the Arabs and the Jews. WEINER’S WILL. [Australian and N.Z. Press Association.] (Received 3, 8.55 a.m.) Jerusalem, Sept. 2. Weiner, the great Jewish scholar, whom Arabs shot at Damascus Gate on August 23, bequeathed £lO,OOO to Moslem institutions. He had contributed liberally during his lifetime to Arab education and charities. STRONG MEASURES. GUILTY TO BE PUNISHED. [Australian and N.Z. Press Association.! London, Sept. 2. Sir John Chancellor, High Commissioner for Palestine, has issued a proclamation, in which he declares: “I have learned with sorrow of atrocious acts by ruthless and bloodthirsty evil-doers, and savage murders perpetrated upon defenceless members of the Jewish population, regardless of age or sex, accompanied by unspeakable savagery. These crimes have brought upon their authors the execrations of all civilised people. “My first duties are to restore order and inflict stern punishment upon all guilty parties. I initiated discussions with Lord Passfield whilst in England concerning constitutional changes in Palestine, but in view of recent events I shall suspend these discussions.”

A Jewish telegraph agency reports that three Jewish barracks were burned at Haifa. LONDON DEMONSTRATION BY JEWISH EX-SERVICEMEN. (Australian and N.Z. Preis Association.) London, Sept. 2. Jewish ex-servicemen assembled in Trafalgar Square and marched to the Cenotaph, placing thereon a wreath inscribed; “From British Jewish exservicemen in reverent memory of those of all faiths wlro dipd for the liberation of Palestine.” Thousands of Jews thronged Hyde Park, where from many platforms impassioned speeches inspired emotional outbursts Speakers proposed to raise purely Jewish battalions, whereupon hundreds responded. It is under stood that the authorities forbid recruiting. A telegram from Riga states that the central committee of the Jewish organisation sent a telegram to Lord Passfield, offering 3000 volunteers for Palestine under British orders. Jews from all parts of London queued ten abreast to attend the Zionist Federation’s protest meeting at the Albert Hall in connection with tho Palestine disturbances. Three thousand unaccommodated vainly stormed the entrances, necessitating police intervention. Overflow meetings in the neighgbourhood relieved the pressure.

LORD MELCHETT’S SPEECH. Lord Melchett, presiding over a meeting of 10,000, declared that the breakdown of British administration in territory under the British flag was almost unequalled since the Indian Mutiny. Such an incredible state of affairs filled Hebrew hearts with indignation and woe. The conflagration broke without knowledge or warning, and those responsible for the safety of Palestine were without methods of dealing with the trouble in a territory about the size of Wales inhabited by a few hundred thousand Arabs. This filled all Jewish organisations with indignation and amazement.

Lord Melchett added: “I do not criticise ths present Government, who took what steps they could the moment trouble started, but the position which was allowed to arise is a disgrace to any British administration. Unless the Balfour declaration is carried out there will be a repetition of these scenes, which might have been avoided if one strong man had been governing the country.” THE RESOLUTION, Dr. Weizmnnn moved a resolution expressing indignation. He said that in the belief that the Government would protect life npd property, Jewish neopie from throughout the world had poured in their millions and settled thousands of people in Palestine. Tho whole manner in (Co tiaucd on foot of next column)

which the mandate had been administered must be adequately investigated.

Chief Rabbi Hertz, in supporting the resolution, which was carried, expressed his confidence in the Government The Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Balfour, Lord Reading, Viscount Cecd, General Smuts, Sir Robert Waley Cohen, the Lord Mayor of London, the Lords Provost of Edinburgh and Glasgow forwarded letters sympathising with the object of the meeting. COMMUNIST RIOT. (United Service.) London, Sept. 2. A meeting arranged by the Warsaw branch of tho Zionist Workers' Federation ended in a fight, in which knives and revolvers were used, 40 being wounded. Communists distributing pamphlets stating that the Arabs are fighting against the Jewish bourgeoisie, not the proletariat, apparently started the trouble.