ACTS OF TERRORISM IN PALESTINE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 66, 19 March 1937, Page 7

ACTS OF TERRORISM IN PALESTINE

QUESTIONS IN COMMONS WOULD MARTIAL LAW HELP? CONTINUATION OF LAWLESSNESS I British Official Wiielesa. 1 RUGBY, March 17. Incidents in Palestine were the subject of several questions in the House of Commons. Replying, the Hon. W. G. A. Ormsby Gore, Colonial Secretary, said that he was glad to note the statement of February 10 announcing that the Mufti of Jerusalem and two other members of the Arab Higher Committee had expressed their abhorrence of these acts, but unfortunately the criminal acts had continued. “I have personally discussed with the High Commissioner for Palestine the question of taking further neasures for dealing with the increasing • umber of acts of violence, which have recently occurred in certain parts of the country,” he said. "The High Commissioner will take up the matter in consultation with his advisers and with the general officer commanding the forces as a matter of urgency.”

The Minister was asked when martial law would be proclaimed, and he replied: “I do not know whether martial law could deal with this matter and the Government would be reluctant to put that into operation." Mr Ormsby Gore said: “I am quite satisfied that these acts of violence are on Arabs by Arabs and on Jews by Arabs, organised by local bodies, and that they are very local in character. I am quite sure that these murders, admittedly by small gangs, have no connection with the Higher Committee.” MORE BOMBS THROWN TENSION AT JERUSALEM JERUSALEM, March 17. Twelve Jewish adults and four children were wounded when a bomb was tin own on the top of a bus in Zinn Squ&re. the Jewish quarrer. Two Arabs were arrested. Two ether bombs exploded in Arab cafes, wounding eight Arabs. The atmosj here throughout the city is very tense.