Arab Congress Ends in Disunity over the Choice of Executive

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Congress of Palestine Arab leaders, Moslems and Christians, ended here yesterday in disunity when a number of the delegates left the assembly.

The clash came about over a disagreement concerning the composition of the Executive Committee. The secessionists protested against the manner of election, insisting that the committee be chosen by secret ballot. The majority, however, preferred to choose the Executive by a prearranged agreement. The group which left the hall published a declaration declaring that the Executive Committee does not truly represent the Arab people.

A group of Arab Communists issued a proclamation, urging that a second congress be convened on a democratic basis “to fight to free Palestine from the power of the British mandate and the Balfour Declaration.”

The new Executive Committee chosen consists of Mussa Kazim Pasha, former chairman of the anti-Zionist Palestine Arab Executive; president; Jakub Faraj, a Christian, vice-mayor of Jerusalem, and Tufik Abdullah, as vice-presidents. The vice-presidents represent the opposition group.

Resolutions of protest were adopted at the concluding session of the Palestine Arab Congress.

The granting of the Dead Sea concession to Engineer Moses Novomejsky was protested in a resolution adopted.

An excess of British officials is employed in the various governmental departments another resolution states. Preference is given to Jewish workers, the Congress objected.

A demand for the abolition of the tithe and the establishment of an agricultural bank, and the doubling of the education budget was presented by the Congress. The new Executive is composed of 48 members, including 12 Christians. The majority of the new members are moderates.