British Press Concerned at Growth of Anti-semitism Among Troops in Palestine

Influential sections of the British press are showing concern at the reported rapid increase of anti-Semitism among British troops garrisoning Palestine.

An editorial in the Daily Telegraph says that in the absence of a clear definition of purpose by the government, the task of the military in Palestine is made doubly difficult and “men such as (Sir Evelyn) Barker and (Col. Richard) Webb can only too easily do harm.” As long as the present policy of procrastination continues, the present reign of terror and violence is likely to continue and “we will be committed to a repetition of the tragic events in Ireland,” the editorial concludes.

The Times publishes a lengthy review by a special correspondent of the relations between the army and the population in Palestine, which stresses that as a result of the “lack of policy” the “military is unpopular with the Jews and the Jews are unpopular with the military.” The “vicious circle” of terrorism and the resulting searches and arrests, all of which load to mutual hostility can only be broken by a wise, determined political plan, the correspondent says. The tenseness of the situation “explains but does not excuse the signs of anti-Semitism among the troops here,” he declares.