SURPRISE MOVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26413, 18 March 1947, Page 5

SURPRISE MOVE

MARTIAL LAW LIFTED \ J PALESTINE POSITION EASIER JEWISH CO-OPERATION JERUSALEM, Mar. 16. Martial law, which was imposed in the Tel-Aviv areas and a section of Jerusalem a fortnight ago, will be lifted at noon (local time) to-morrow. The official announcement adds that the Army and police had completed their immediate task. The Government could, and would reimpose martial law if necessary. The withdrawal of martial law was partly the result of the evidence of the Jewish communities’ willingness to co-operate against the terrorists. An appreciable number of Stern Gang and Irgun Zvai Leumi members had been caught during the period of martial law, and much valuable information gained. The Irgun Zvai Leumi secret radio, soon after the announcement that martial law was to be lifed, boasted that the authorities had not, as claimed, captured any Irgun members. “We have had no losses, and we continue our work,” said the radio. The broadcast repeated the Government statement about co-operation, and commented “If this is co-operation, then we are satisfied.” Pro-British Demonstrations

The surprise lifting of martial law at Tel-Aviv produced pro-British demonstrations. Girls kissed soldiers. Rabbis and other leaders carried mass resolutions thanking Army Headquarters.

The Jewish Agency, commenting on the lifting of martial law,said: “One good thing about dealing with the British is that if they make a mistake they admit it, and correct it before it is too late.” The Jerusalem correspondent of The Times, discussing the extent of cooperation received by the Government from the Jews during the period of martial law, says a number of Right Wing groups have been in touch with the British Army. There is also reason to believe that the Jewish Federation ,of Labour decided it best to assist the Government against the terrorists. These organisations are closer in touch with the commerce of the country, and have by-passed the Jewish Agency, which wrongly assumed that the Government regarded martial law as a mistake. The Government will reimpose martial law if co-operation is not forthcoming. Terrorist Acts Continue Terrorists blew up an oil pipe line near Haifa. The pipe line was severed in three places, seven miles northeast of Haifa Bay. A military jeep was blow up by a roadmine in the Tiberias area in northern Palestine. Four soldiers were slightly injured. Protest to America Dr Fadil Jamali, Iraq Foreign Minister, protested to the United States Ambassador in Bagdad against ' the F. 8.1. searching the Arab Bureau in Washington. He added that Iraq regarded the search as instigated by Zionists and as an unfriendly act against the Arab world. It is officially announced that British troops during the martial law period combed out and arrested 78 suspected terrorists, including 12 Irgun members and 15 Stern Gang members.