A “permanent war without interruption” against the British in Palestine was proclaimed today by the Irgun Zvai Leumi, Jewish extremist group, following the blasting yesterday of Haifa police headquarters in which several British and Arab policemen were killed and many persons wounded. Responsibility for the blast was assumed this morning by the Stern Group in a statement to the press.
The Palestine Government reacted to the Haifa explosion by summoning David Ben Gurion, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, to Government House and notifying him that the sternest measures, short of martial law, will follow any further terrorist activities. The warning was conveyed by Sir Henry Gurney, Acting High Commissioner.
The Irgun proclamation, broadcast over its secret radio, made it clear that neither Jewish Agency leaders nor the British Government should labor under the illusion that extremist activities will cease while informal talks between the two are going on. It ridiculed the reports of an alleged truce and revealed that the organization is preparing for an open “battle” in place of sporadic violence.
“Our war against the enemy,” the broadcast said, “will be permanent and without interruption until our aim is achieved-the liberation of our fatherland. We embarked on daily attacke, but our acts are adapted to political and military tactical requirements. We are not resting even when sometimes we are not shooting. This may change when we enter into a battle which will be general and decisive. We believe this day will come, though we are not able to say when.”
TEN JEWS ARRESTED IN HAIFA; CURFEW LIFTED BY MILITARY AUTHORITIES
Ten Jews were held for questioning tonight in Haifa after police and troops combed the city in a hunt for the persons responsible for the attack on police head-Quarters. More than 800 persons were “screaned” during the operation. However, the ourfew which was clamped down on the city following the explosion was lifted.
An smended casualty report released this morning discloses that the explosion killed four policemen–two Arabs and two Britons–seriously wounded seven persons and caused alight injury to more than 50 policemen; Forty-eight eivilians were hospitalized.
The small truck which was converted into a huge timebomb by the extremists was stolen in Tel Aviv on Saturday, it was reported today. The driver was held prisoner until yesterday evening when he was released unharmed.
JEWISH AGENCY EXECUTIVE MEETS TO DISCUSS SEOURITY SITUATION
A full session of the Jewish Agency executive–the first since before the Zionist Congress–was held today to discuss various pressing problems, among them the security situation.
The meeting heard a report from David Ben Gurion on political develophents since adjournment of the Congress, including his reoent talks with Colonial Minister Arthur Creech-Jones. The London conference was also discussed. The Jewish National Council will meet next Monday for a full-dress public discussion of extremist activities.
MORE TROOPS REACH PALESTINE; PARTITION WITHOUT STATEHOOD PROJECTED
Meanwhile, additional British troops arrived in Palestine from Egypt. The arrivals, who are understood to comprise a brigads, are the vanguard of the British Third Division which is in the process of being transferred here.
A British military spokesman in Cairo, queried as to whether the troops are being moved into Palestine to crush terrorism in expectation of a final solution of the Palestine problem, evaded a direct answer, but asserted that the final decision will be a modified version of the federalization plan, it is reported by the Arab press.
Corroberation of this report came from another source today, when the Hashomer Hatzair newspaper Mishmar quoted “reliable sources” as stating that the Colonial Office is prepared to accept administrative partition of Palestine, but not Jewish statehood in part of the country. The paper said that this would be in line with the British Government’s promise to the Arabs that any partition will not be final.
The Palestine censor announced today a ban on all references in the press to illegal immigration vessels, even prohibiting mentioning ships in foreign ports.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
