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Defense Regulations Announced in Palestine; Arab Moderates Pledge Loyalty

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The Government announced today in a special issue of the official Palestine Gazette that colonial defense regulations similar to the imperial regulations are effective in the Holy Land, with the exception of conscription.

An Arab delegation headed by Ragheb Bey Nashashibi, leader of the moderate Arab Defense Party, called on High Commissioner Sir Harold A. MacMichael and assured him that the majority of Palestine Arabs were loyal to Britain and would support the Government in the current international crisis.

Falastin, principal Palestine Arabic daily, declared that the Arabs would join up with the powers serving their political interests and would incline toward the democracies, which undoubtedly would fulfill Arab demands. A1 Jihad, organ of the Arab extremists, asserted that a new war would enable the Arabs to profit from their experiences in the World War.

Shiplines and airways to Italy were suspended and lines to Rumania were carrying only passenger traffic. The crisis indicated the importance of the Lydda airport in the imperial chain as many British high officials, governor and diplomats took off for eastern and western destinations.

The provisional Executive of the Jewish Agency and the Jewish National Council issued a statement assuring Palestine Jewry that essential supplies were adequate and there was no reason for panic or profiteering. It added that competent bodies were prepared for war needs and were giving special attention to Air Raid Precautions.

Another statement called on the Jews for unity and self restraint in the current crisis and declared the Jewish people must take a stand alongside the democratic world. It denounced "the dastardly and foul murder of British police inspectors, committed by an enemy of our people." (Two officers of the Criminal Investigation Department were killed in a bomb explosion in midtown Jerusalem on Saturday.)

Eight Tiberias Jews will go on trial before the Haifa Military Court tomorrow on charges of Killing three Arabs. The defendants include Abraham Gershenberg, Tiberias representative of the Jewish Agency; Nahum Kramer, local chairman of the Kofer Hayishub (Jewish defense fund), and Abraham Daskell, engineer of the Palestine Electric Corporation.

Dr. David Bukspan, Palestine leader of the Zionist-Revisionists, was interned in Sarafend concentration camp for a year under the emergency regulations. He was arrested on Aug. 21.

A British soldier was killed last night in a clash with Arab terrorists northwest of Acre, it was announced today.

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