All curfews throughout Palestine were lifted today. At the same time military preparations were made to implement the Palestine Government’s ultimatum to Jewish leaders that certain areas of the country will be put under martial law if ex-Major H.I. Collins, kidnapped by extremists Sunday, is not released.
Although it was announced yesterday by a Jewish Agency spokesman and by the Irgun underground that Collins had been released simultaneously with Judge Ralph Windham, the whereabouts of the former remained a mystery today. Judge Windham, on the other hand, arrived in court this morning and immediately resumed his work. He was met by a cheering crowd as he entered the court building, and was greeted with flowers by the Jewish Bar Association.
Mayor Israel Rokach of Tel Aviv today told newsmen that the government has delayed imposing military control, apparently in the hope that Collins will appear. The ultimatum originally expired at 5 p.m. The new deadline was not announced. In the meantime, it was reported that a meeting of the highest officials of the Palestine Government, including the High Commissioner, took place today with General Sir Miles Dempsey, Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in the Middle East, and General Sir Evelyn Barker, Palestine Commander-in-Chief,at which the situation in the country was discussed.
Palestine police headquarters said tonight that they still had no confirmation of the Jewish announcement that Collins had been freed. His failure to appear gave rise to various rumors. One rumor had it that Collins died from wounds received when he was abducted; another said that he was too ill to be moved from the Irgun hideout; a third rumor asserted that he had been rushed by the British authorities to a hospital.
GRUNER AGREES TO APPEAL TO PRIVY COUNCIL FOR CLEMENCY
Dov Gruner, the Jewish extremist whose execution was postponed in order to give him an opportunity to appeal to the Privy Council, the highest appelate court in the British Commonwealth, tonight signed his application for an appeal, after refusing to do so yesterday. Henahem Beigin, "Commander-in-Chief" of the Irgun Zvai Leumi, tonight announced in a broadcast over the Irgun’s secret radio that "the British shall pay sevenfold if Gruner is executed."
In his warning, Beigin said that the Irgun "will be merciless in retaliation for such premeditated murder." Comparing Jewish casualties with the British losses in Palestine last year, he declared: "The enemy counts his losses but dia anybody count the Jewish losses–over 100 Jewish warriors of the Haganah, Irgun and the Stern Group, besides the hundreds who are suffering in Palestinian and in foreign prisons, and the hundreds of thousands who are suffering in camps. Europe’s Jews have been exterminated not only by the Nazis, but also as a result of Britith policy."
NO JEWS DETAINED IN TWO-DAY SEARCH IN PATACH-TIKVAH
Not a single Jew was detained in a two-day hunt for terrorists in Patach-Tikvah which was concluded today. In addition to searching every house in the township, the military and police forces also chesked the hospitals and factories.
An official announcement today reported that a truck with clothing valued at $40,000 was hijacked this afternoon near Athlit by four armed and masked men. The Jewish driver of the truck was found bound and gagged.
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