Palestine Jews Call Two-hour Strike in Protest Against Slander at “arms Trial”

A two-hour strike during which work in all Jewish enterprises throughout the country stopped, was called here today to protest the “incitements and false accusations” against the Jews of Palestine voiced by British military officials during the “arms trial” which took place recently in Jerusalem.

The strike, proclaimed by the Jewish National Council of Palestine, started at ten o’clock in the morning and concluded at noon. All Jewish national institutions kept their offices closed. Jewish traffic was suspended and all stores closed their doors.

All Jewish public buildings in Palestine, including the premises of the Jewish Agency and the town hall of Tel Aviv, flew the British Union Jack and the Zionist blue-and-white flag yesterday to mark the 26th anniversary of the issuance of the Balfour Declaration. Editorials in the entire Hebrew press demanded the speedy implementation of the pledge contained in the Declaration.

On the occasion of the anniversary, the executive committee of the Jewish National Council cabled to Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Jewish Agency president, in London, thanking him for his services to the Zionist cause and asking him to convey the thanks of the Palestine Jewish community to the statesmen who had supported Zionist arms. “Your great services to our people and homeland for several decades guarantees that you will bring our storm-tossed vessel to quiet shores,” the message said. “Through you we send the blessings of Palestine’s Jews to the great statesmen – Lloye George and Jan Smuts – who were responsible for the historic declaration. We trust that in their and our days a Jewish State will be established in Palestine.”

Indicating the increased political activity concerning Palestine’s future status, the influential Arab dailies here, Falastin and Adiffa, have begun publication of an Arabic translation of the White Paper in daily installments. The local Jewish press reports increased activity among Arab leaders in Palestine in connection with the Arab federation talks in Cairo.