News Brief

An onslaught on the Jewish population of Tiberias, Galilee, which was threatened following the massacres at Hebron and Safed, was averted by a mutual agreement between Arab and Jewish leaders.

Local Jewish leaders, with the participation of the Mufti, the Moslem religious head, and the rabbis, following the conference, issued special proclamations to each community urging that the peace be kept. So far no serious disturbances occurred.

CHANCELLOR REFUSES JEWISH DEMANDS

Jewish representatives, including spokesmen for the Zionist Executive, the National Council of Palestine Jews and local Jewish communities, were again received by the High Commissioner today. The Jewish spokesmen submitted a memorandum urging the Palestine government to legalize the Jewish self-defense body as danger is still impending in Lower and upper Galilee. They also urged the government to draw a lesson from the disastrous experiences of the past two weeks and distribute arms to the settlers in the Jewish colonies in the north. They also asked for the release of scores of Palestine Jews who are still held in prison on charges of possession of arms.

The High Commissioner declined to concede these demands.

As to the other demands of the Jewish delegation concerning compensation to the families of the victims and the punishment of the guilty, Sir John Chancellor promised to take them into consideration. A part of these demands will be fulfilled, he said.

The government announced that troops were despached this morning to Beersheba, where disturbances are occurring.

The proclamation issued by the High Commissioner yesterday in which he condemned the Arab outrages on the defenseless Jewish population and promised stern justice for the offenders afforded considerable relief to the Jewish population. Leaders of the Arab Executive, however, expressed resentment at the tone of the High Commissioner’s statement. To the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency a spokesman of the Arab executive declared that it regards the proclamation as “extremely unjust” as it offers an opinion before an inquiry has been made. The Executive has therefore decided not to ask for an interview with the High Commissioner and has instead sent cables of protest to the Colonial Office in London.

VAAD LEUMI URGES RENEWED ACTIVITY

The National Council of Palestine

“Notwithstanding the great disaster which has befallen us, the entire Jewish population of Palestine stands united in the belief and conviction in the full victory for the upbuilding of the Jewish National Home. Any weakening declaration will be regarded as a blow to the whole people. A strengthening declaration at this moment is necessary for the continuation on a larger scale of our activities for the upbuilding of the Jewish National home.”