Emir Abdullah, ruler of Transjordan, who aspires to become the ruler of a united Arab state comprising Transjordan, Palestine and Syria, today issued an invitation to Arab leaders here to come to his winter residence for “consultations” on Arab post-war problems, including the future of Palestine.
The move by the Emir coincides with the disclosure here by Palestine Arab leaders that they intend to establish an Arab political representation in Jerusalem and in London “in order to defend the political rights of the Arabs, and to achieve national independence.” Leading this movement is Rashid Haj Ibraim of Haifa who convoked a conference of Arab spokesmen in Haifa before whom he outlined a program of action. The conference, it was reported today, approved the program but could not reach any agreement as to the composition of the representation.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Government was asked today by the Arab members of the Haifa municipality to replace the Jewish chairman of the Haifa Municipal Committee, Shabbatai Levi, with an Arab. The municipal committee which performs the functions of a municipal council, is composed of four Jews, four Christians, and two Moslems. The population of Haifa is now 100,000 of whom nearly seventy percent are Jews.
An official announcement today discloses that the term of office of Sir Harold MacMichael, Palestine’s High Commissioner, has been extended for one year, beginning with March 3. Sir Harold has been in office since December, 1937.
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