Proclamation of martial law in Palestine tonight hinged upon the decision of High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope.
According to an Order-in-Council published tonight in the Official Gazette, the British official is authorized to delegate “all or any of his powers” to Lieut. Gen. John G. Dill, commanding officer of 30,000 troops mobilized to quell the Arab rebellion.
Under the Cabinet decree, article four of the 1931 defense Order-in-Council is amended giving the High Commissioner blanket powers to secure public safety. Included are the following enumerated powers:
Censorship control and suppression of publications and communications; arrest, detention, exclusion and deportation of any individuals; control of harbors, territorial waters, ship movements, aerodromes, transportation facilities over land, air and water, trade and manufactures; property may be appropriated, forfeited or disposed of; fines may be levied against persons or corporations as punitive measures when actual offenders in a community can or cannot be identified.
Trials are authorized under the regulations by civil and military courts, the latter having now been legalized. All present laws inconsistent with the new order are suspended.
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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.
