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Britain Seen Expecting Arab Terrorism

July 6, 1937
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, COMPLETING PREPARATIONS FOR PUBLISHING THE ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT ON PALESTINE THURSDAY, HAS ORDERED THE CRUISER REPULSE TO LEAVE MALTA FOR HAIFA.

THE REPORT WILL BE PUBLISHED HERE AS A COMMAND PAPER THURSDAY MORNING. A COPY HAS BEEN DEPOSITED WITH THE BRITISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON AND THE BRITISH LIBRARY OF INFORMATION IN NEW YORK.

THE GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CABLING THE FULL TEXT OF ITS STATEMENT OF POLICY ON THE REPORT FOR RELEASE IN NEW YORK SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH PUBLICATION IN LONDON.

THERE HAS BEEN NO AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF THE REPORT IN ADVANCE BY ANY AGENCY, IT WAS STATED AT THE COLONIAL OFFICE, AND SKEPTICISM WAS EXPRESSED THAT THE OFFICIAL TEXT HAD GOTTEN OUT.

THE LONDON HERALD DECLARED IN AN EDITORIAL THAT THE ORDERING OF THE REPULSE TO HAIFA SUPPORTED THE IMPRESSION THAT THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES EXPECTED “RENEWAL OF ARAB TERRORISM AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION’S REPORT TO END THE LONG-STANDING ARAB-JEWISH CONFLICT.”

“NOTHING COULD BE MORE HARMFUL TO JEWS AND ARABS ALIKE, AS WELL AS TO THE FUTURE OF PALESTINE,” THE HERALD SAID, “THAN RECOURSE TO TERRORISM. BEFORE RESORTING TO VIOLENCE EXTREMISTS IN PALESTINE SHOULD TAKE WARNING THAT GUNS, BOMBS AND MURDER NEVER HAVE SOLVED ANY PROBLEM AND WOULD MERELY ALIENATE SYMPATHY FROM THOSE USING THEM. IF THE ARABS HAVE A CASE THE WORLD WILL LISTEN, BUT ONLY IF IT IS PRESENTED THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL CHANNELS IN A PEACEFUL AND DEMOCRATIC WAY.”

THE DAILY EXPRESS, COMMENTING ON PARTITION SAID THAT “ALMOST NOBODY LIKES THE PLAN, AND IT MAY WORK.”

PARTITION OF PALESTINE WILL FORCE ARABS INTO AN OPEN CONFLICT WITH GREAT BRITAIN, AN UNNAMED ARAB LEADER IS REPORTED TO HAVE TOLD THE JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT OF THE DAILY EXPRESS.

THE ARAB IS QUOTED: “SUCH A SCHEME IS DISASTROUS. IT WOULD MEAN THE ARABS WILL BE FORCED TO RESUME OPEN CONFLICT AGAINST BRITAIN AND THEY MAY EVEN SEEK THE PROTECTION OF ANOTHER POWER, WHICH IN THE PRESENT INTERNATIONAL CONDITIONS MIGHT BE ITALY.”

THE MOUNTING TENSION WAS INCREASED, THE HAVAS NEWS AGENCY DECLARED, BY REPORTS OF AN INCREASING ITALIAN CAMPAIGN TO STIR UP ARAB DISCONTENT AGAINST THE BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN PALESTINE.

ITALIAN CONSULAR OFFICIALS, IT WAS SAID, WERE URGING YOUNG PALESTINE ARABS TO CONTRIBUTE TO A NEW NEWSPAPER IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, WHICH HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO PUBLISH ARTICLES ENTITLED: “ARAB RESISTANCE AGAINST BRITISH IMPERIALISM,” THE ARAB MOVEMENT FOR INDEPENDENCE,” AND “ARAB SYMPATHY FOR THE ITALIAN EMPIRE.”

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