IN PALESTINE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 220, 4 September 1929, Page 5

IN PALESTINE

SITUATION GENERALLY QUIET COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO CAUSES OF OUTBREAKS, HIGH COMMISSIONER’S REQUEST, (British Official Wirelese.l (Received 4. 11.40 a.m.) Rugby, September 3. The Colonial Office states that the situation in Palestine is reported to be generally quiet. In the north, however, local incidents took place. An attack on tho police barracks at Hattin, eight miles west of Tiberias, during Sunday night was successfully repulsed. Slight hand-to-hand fighting took place at Yesud Haniala, north of Lake Tiberias,, some arrests being made, without casualties to British troops. The general attitude of the trans-Jordan tribes is stated to be satisfactory with the exception of two small areas in the north. MANY ARRESTS MADE. In a further communique the Colonial Office says that instructions were issued some days ago by the Palestine Government for the collection of evidence before it disappeared, as to whether the disorders which commenced on August 23 were spontan eous or preconcerted. In the meantime, while British forces are actively co-operating w th tho 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 in dealing with summary eases. Special measures are being taken to pravide for impartial tribunals to cope with what probably will be a large number of cases.

At the request of the High Commissioner, the Colonial Secretary is appointing a commission of inquiry, which will proceed to Palestine this month to inquire into the immediate causes which led to the recent outbreak ,including the extent to which it may be regarded as having been organised action. The chairman the commission will be Sir Walter Shaw, late Chief Justice of tho Straits Settlements, and there will be associated with him three members of Parliament, selected one from each of the three political parties. INQUIRY LIMITED TO IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY. In view of the suggestions which have been made in certain quarters, the Colonial Secretary desires to make it clear that the British Govern, went has no idea of reconsidering British tenure of the mandate for Palestine, and that no inquiry is contemplated which might alter the position of this country in regard to the mandate or the policy laid down in the Balfour declaration of 1917 and embodied in the mandate- of establishing in Palestine a national home for the Jews. '1 he inquiry now initiated is, therefore, limited to the immediate emergency and will not extend to considerations of majm policy. When the report has been received it will be a matter of earnest I'onsidiu I o:i by ins Majesty’s Government along what line, within the terms of the mandate, the future policy m Palestine should be determined. ’.AFETY-OF NEW ZEALANDERS. PREMIER ASKED FOR STATEMENT. (By Telegraph-Special to ’'Tribune.'') Wellington, September 4. The safety of New Zealanders in Palestine was the subject of. a notice of motion of a question by Mr A. Hamilton (Reform, Wallace) yesterday. He gave notice to ask Sii Joseph Ward whether he would make a reassuring statement, as many people here with relatives in Palestine were much concerned. SEQUELTO TIMBER STRIKE UNION OFFICIALS CHARGED COMMITTED FOB TRIAL (Australian -and N.Z. Press Association.] Sydney, Sept. 3. Seven union officials charged with conspiracy to molest and intimidate free labourers in the timber industry, whoso cases have occupied tho Police Court for a fortnight, were to-day committed for trial. The defenders are: Charles Reeves (52), bricklayer; John Smith Garden (48), secretary to the Labour Council; Michael Ryan organiser; William Terry (42), organiser; Edward Paton (24), organiser; John Culbert (38), secretary; John Kavanagh (50), organiser. All the defendai.i . denied tho allegations, Garden in particular declaring that on no occasion had he uttered tho vile adjectives attributed to him in the evidence.