PALESTINE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 221, 5 September 1929, Page 5

PALESTINE

INQUIRY INTO INCIDENTS APPROVED BY BRITISH PRESS. TROOPS MAKE MANY ARRESTS. [British Official Wireless.) (Received 5, 11.10 a.m.) Rugby, Sept. 4. The announcement that a commission of inquiry into the Paelstine incidents is being appointed, is approved by the press. The “Daily Telegraph” says: “Tha Colonial Secretary, Lord Passfield’s, prompt action is admirable. The “Daily Chronicle" says: “The terms of reference lor the inquiry are [he right ones,” and it entirely approves of the firm words in which it is stated in the official announcement that His Majesty’s Government has no idea of reconsidering Britain’s tenure of the mandate. No inquiry is contemplated which might altei the position of this country in regard to tlie mandate or the policy laid down m the Balfour declaration. The “Manchester Guardian,” discussing the appointment of a commission and the statement on the subject by the Prime Minister at Geneva, says that the troubles in Palestine seem to have subsided almost completely. They were serious enough while they lasted, but the Jehad, or Holy War, which some observers seem to have anticipated, has not materialised. There is a certain effervescence in the Moslem world, but it is not warlike. “The attitude of that great statemsan ibn Saud.” says the writer, “is of real importance, for his influence in the Arab world is unsurpassed- He left no doubt that he does not drcam of promotiug an anti-B'itish movement in Palestine. Indeed, his sentiments appear to be in complete harmony with the theme of Mr. MacDonald, whose statement at Geneva should give satisfaction to all.” ARABS ATTACK VILLAGE. The Colonial Office states that on Monday night a party of mounted Artibs attacked the village of Talpioth, two miles south of Jerusalem, which was occupied by British troops; The attack was repulsed with loss to tho assailants. Our troops, in conjunction with the Palestine police, have carried out searches based on Jaffa. Bethlehem and Jerusalem, 170 arrests being made at the village of Weleta in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem. Sixty individuals, including two important agitators, have been arrested at Beisan. Rumours continue to indicate the passage of Arabs into Palestine on the north-eastern frontier. No conceited tribal movement is believed to be taking place, but an isolated marauding band maintains unrest in that area In the Haifa, Gaza and Jaffa areas, all is reported quiet. Trans-Jordania is tranquil. The whole country is systematically patrolled by aircraft. JEWS MOLESTING ARABS. POLICE IN "DIFFICULTIES. (Australian Pres, Assn—United Service.) (Received 5, 11.30 a.m.) Jerusalem Sept. 4. It is now reported that cases of Jews molesting Arabs, both Christians and Moslem, are increasing, and the police are in difficulties. ARAB MANIFESTO. ACCUSATIONs”aGAINST JEWS. ["Times” Cable.) London, Sept. 4. “The Times’s” Jerusalem correspondent states that the Palestine Arab Executive broadcasts a manifesto declaring that most of the Jews were self-armed and that the Government armed the others. They deny that any Jews were mutilated, but assert that the Jews mutilated certain Arabs, that Jewish mobs killed isolated Arab women and children, and that the Jews committed tho first murders on women and children. Disciplined British troops shot Arab women and children in their homes and in their beds. The Palestine troubles are directly duo to tho British Zionist policy, aiming at the annihilation of the Arab nation, because they favour reviving the non-existent Jewish nation. The Arabs insist upon an impartial inquiry not influenced by Zionism. PROTESTS AGAINST NEW BUILDING. [Australian Press Assn.—United Serviced (Received 5, 11.10 a.m.) Jerusalem. Sept. 4, Tho superior Moslem Council has begun to erect a new building iinmedi atcly above the Wailing Wall, despite Jewish protests. The Government is considering the matter. Strong Government action prevented Moslem demonstrations at Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa and Nablus; 200 Arabs were arrested at Liffa and 120 at Hebron, where many Jews were previously massacred. ALL OFFENDERS TO BE BROUGHT TO TRIAL. lAustrailan Pre« Assn.—United Service.) (Received 5, 12.15 p.m.) Jerusalem, Sept. 4. Tho High Commissioner for Palestine has issued a proclamation stating that all offenders without distinction of race or creed will be brought to trial. SPECTACULAR FIGHTING. BEDOUINS AND BRITISH TROOPS. lAustrahaa and N Z Press Association.! London, Sept. 4. Tho “Daily Express’ " Jerusalem correspondent states that there was n spectacular light between Bedouin Arabs and British troops on Sunday night, when three companies of infantry, supported by armoured cars and aeroplanes, came to grips with 1000 tribesmen on tho open plains between Tiberias and Attin, which the Arabs had previously ransacked. A fierce struggje ensued twelve Arabs being killed ami many wounded and eight taken prisoner and sent to Tiberias.

A company of the South Wales Borderers, with aeroplanes and seaplanes, also surrounded the Arab town of Lifta, north-west of the Jerusalem area. In all cases the]

villages were surprised and loot captured and prisoners takenArabs made a determined night attack upon the South Wales Borderers at Talpioth and were replied to by a brisk sweeping fire of Lewis guns on the roofs of houses, After two hours the Arabs vanished in the darkness. The authorities are generally satisfied with the position, though there are still mobile forces of armed Arabs on horses and camels on the plains north of the Sea of Galilee. Troops near Jericho, however, are prepared for all eventualities. Meanwhile. Jerusalem has taken on a normal air of patriarchal respectability. News vendors were selling newspapers for the first time for a fortnight. Though censored, they bear a heavy black border of mourning and invariably the one common heading in bold black letters “Seven days of bloodshed and horrors in Palestine.’’ Shops are reopening and armed sentries are posted at important spots. BALFOUR DECLARATION. The much-discussed Balfour Declaration consists in a statement by Earl (then Mr A. J.) Balfour to the effect that the British Government “views with favour the establishment of Palestine as a national home for the Jewish people, and will use its best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing will be done that may prejudice the civil or the religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.”