Palestine Jews Defer Civil Disobedience; Will Await Results of London Negotiations

In view of persistent reports that a break in the Palestine deadlock may be expected next week, a joint meeting here today of the executives of the Jewish Agency and the Jewish National Council and heads of local municipalities voted to postpone the effective date for the projected civil disobedience campaign from this coming Tuesday to Thursday.

Speakers pointed out that the postponement will give Dr. Weizmann an opportunity to conclude his discussions in London, and will provide time for the British Government to announce a new policy, if any. However, should present anticipations prove baseless, a highly effective non-cooperation campaign can be expected.

A military headquarters spokesman denied this morning a report appearing last night in the London press, which said that Britain was sending an armored division to Palestine and that advance units had already arrived here. The London reports linked the troop movements with the rumors of an imminent favorable decision on the admission of 100,000 Jews.

High Commissioner Sir Alan Cunningham left by air today for London. He is expected to return within the week. In a statement issued last night, he asserted that the delay in releasing prisoners confined at Raffa and Latrun was due to the fact that many had refused to give their names and others had given false ones, thus delaying their screening and holding up their release.

Dr. Hussein Khalidi, secretary of the Arab Higher Committee, said today that departure of the High Commissioner for London and the presence there of Dr. Weizmann indicated that events of “prime importance” to Palestine are being planned. He declared that the Arabs in Palestine and elsewhere will watch developments closely in the next few days and will fight any decision which does not satisfy Arab aspirations.

The central committee of the Histadruth today appealed by cable to the British Labor Party to intervene to secure the release of the detainees at the Raffa camp among whom it said are many Socialists. “If the Labor Party fails to intervenes,” the message concluded, “the Socialists in Palestine will lose faith in English Socialism.”