The British Government has given consideration to withdrawing recognition from the Jewish Agency, although the Agency is specifically mentioned in the Palestine Mendate, Colonial Secretary Arthur Creech-Jones declared in Commons today.
Earlier, he had warned the Palestine Jews that martial law would be imposed on the whole country unless drastic action was taken to curb terrorist outbreaks. He said: “I warn the Jews of Palestins and those who condemn brutalities that the course recently taken by events must lead to placing the country under full military control.”
Replying to a question from Winston Churchill, who asked whather a stay in execution was granted Dov Gruner, condemned Irgunist, because two Britons were kidnapped as hostages, and if so was this practice not “serious” in that it turned aside from the normal path of justice, Creech-Jones declared: “There is no turning aside. The respite was ordered because of a request for appeal to the Privy Council.”
The Colonial Minister reported that the government had recently taken “under review the whole problem of terrorism in Palestine and, in consultation with the High Commissioner and the Chief of the Imperial Staff, had issued a strong directive intended to ensure” more effective measures by the Palestine police. Adding that he had made an appeal to responsible Jewish elements in Palestine, he said, “suppression of terrorism demande the active participation of the whole Jewish community also direct cooperation by the Jewish Agency, which, I regret, has not been forthcoming to the extent essential in preventing these acts of terrorism.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
