DELIBERATE POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26214, 26 July 1946, Page 5

DELIBERATE POLICY

ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES JEWISH ORGANISATION EVIDENCE IN TELEGRAMS LONDON, July 24. A White Paper relating to the circumstances leading up to the British round-up and arrests on June 29 in Palestine reveals that the British Government, through intercepted telegrams, was led to three conclusions: 1. That the Haganah and its associate force, Palmach. which is an illegal military organisation, working under the political control of prominent members of the Jewish Agency, had been “ engaged in carefully-planned movements of sabotage and violence under the guise of the Jewish resistance movement.”

2. The Irgun Zvai Leumi and the Stern Group worked on certain of these operations since last autumn in co-operation with the Haganah high command. 3. The radio station known as Kovm Israel, claiming to be the “ voice of the resistance movement ” and working under the Jewish Agency direction, had been supporting these organisations. Planning of Attacks The White Paper declared that seven telegrams which passed between London and Jerusalem between September 23, 1945, and November 3, 1945, dealt with proposed attacks against railways, police launches, and the Haifa refinery on October 31, 1945, and November 1, 1945, which were duly carried out. It also disclosed that a security member of the Jewish Agency executive sent a telegram to London suggesting that “ we cause one serious incident as an indication of more serious incidents to come should the Government decide against us.” This telegram added: “The Stern Group has agreed to join us completely on the basis of this programme.” The White Paper says: “ That the Jewish Agency executive agreed to the suggested action is clearly shown by subsequent telegrams, one of which from the agency’s legal adviser, Bernard Joseph, wired from Jerusalem, said: ‘ Some members think it necessary to back your political efforts with activities which do not bear the character of a general conflict.’” ' Signals Given in Code Code phrases in the intercepted telegrams, “ Sending deputation to dominions,” §nd “Greetings to chill," were really signals from the Jewish Agency that isolated actions in Palestine had been decided upon, states the Wane Paper. It detailed attacks that wtue planned in advance. For instance, it declared that Palmach was responsible for blowing up the Palestinian railway system at 153 places, and Irgun Zvai Leumi was responsible for the attacks against the railyards at Lydda. The White Paper says: “The incidents were carefully planned in advance as part of a deliberate policy intended as warnings to his Majesty s Government of the consequences that would follow if it did not comply with the wishes of the Jewish community in Palestine. The Jewish Agencyexecutive was not prepared to wait iur a declaration of the British Government’s policy, and decided to cause one serious incident in order to influence that policy.”

Broadcast Warning The White Paper refers to a broadcast from Kovm Israel on May 12, which warned the British Government that, if it did not fulfil its responsibilities under the mandate, the Jewish people would be obliged to lay before the nations of the world a request that the British should leave Palestine. The White Paper emphasised that the broadcast was of particular significance because it was given at the express request of the head of the Jewish Agency’s Political Department, Dr Shertok. The Exchange Telegraph’s political correspondent says the majority of the persons implicated in the intercepted telegrams have since been arrested in Palestine. The most notable exception is the chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, David Ben Gurio, who is out of reach in Paris. It is emphasised that, although telegrams were sent to London from Jerusalem. the British Government has no evidence to suggest that London was in fact used as a centre from which illegal activities were planned or directed- The telegrams, although directed to London, were for individuals rather than for any permanent organisations. None of the people who received the message and against whom the British have evidence are at present in London, The Exchange Telegraph correspondent adds: “ It is true that the telegrams revealed to the British Government that events were about to take place before they did so. Nevertheless, as international negotiations were going on about Palestine's future and the British and American committee was collecting evidence for its report it was regarded as of first importance that no action should be taken which might not only wreck any hope of a final solution of the problem, but might set in motion a train of events leading to civil war in Palestine. No action could therefore be taken before the authorities on the spot were satisfied that they had sufficient reinforcements to handle the situation, which might have amounted to full-scale civil war.