Catholic Writer in Jerusalem Tells of “prominent Zionist’s” Recent Appeal for Understanding Between

Dr. Alexander Mombelli, Jerusalem correspondent of the National Catholic Welfare Council News, reports in the latest issue of the N.C.W.C news sheet that the police in Beirut, Syria, have arrested several Jews who are said to have been buying arms in large quantities in Syria and smuggling them into Palestine. According to his report, two Jews from Haifa were arrested by the police in Beirut and a machine gun, several hand grenades and 19 rifles were taken from them, and it is alleged that an organization in Palestine had provided them with a check for five thousand pounds for this purpose.

The correspondent further states that Emir Abdallah of Transjordania has sent to the British High Commissioner in Jerusalem a strong protest against “the effort of the Zionists to make Palestine a battlefield,” and has announced that if the smuggling of arms into Palestine is not stopped at once he refuses to be responsible for what his tribes of desert people will do against the Jews.

Dr. Mombelli tells of an appeal for an understanding between Jews and Arabs which has recently been issued by a “prominent Zionist” in Palestine and which reads in part as follows:

“Two years ago when the Arab leaders sought our help in connection with the strife for the establishment of a Legislative Council, they gave us to understand, in various ways, that they were prepared to negotiate with us. We did not take advantage of that opportunity. On July 28, 1922, the Zionist Executive stated that the Zionist policy would be conducted in accordance with the policy laid down in the White Book. The Zionist Executive further stated that this policy, loyally accepted by all parties, would mark the beginning of a new era of peaceful progress. In making this statement the Zionist Executive accepted the only official interpretation extant of the Balfour Declaration. This official interpretation could have been an instrument of peace in Palestine, but we have to admit that certain Zionist sections only accepted the White Book under protest and continued to plead for a Maximalist policy. This attitude has contributed towards the creation of an atmosphere of distrust. The Zionist leaders must speak such words and do such deeds as will convince ourselves and the Arabs that the Zionist program is to be carried through in full cooperation with the Arabs in Palestine.”

The Catholic correspondent quotes the anti-Zionist views of Vincent Sheean, representative of the North American press association, who is now in Palestine, as follows:

“In the first six weeks or two months that I was here, as the result of my conversations and contacts with Zionists. I came to the conclusion that their attitude is aggressive, dangerous and unjust. They ignored the existing population here. When I asked what was being done looking towards an agreement with the Arabs, their answers were always flippant.

“There were also additional facts. An examination of government papers shows that in all the negotiations with the Arabs concerning a parliament, the only reason that nothing had been done about the proportional represent ative government was that it is opposed to the Zionist idea of a National Home. The comments of the Zionists on the subject were generally cynical and did not show a proper appreciation of the fact that the Arabs are an overwhelming majority. ‘We can buy any Arab in Palestine.’ ### heard over and over again. I have heard them call the Arabs ‘Red Indians.’ What made a deep impression on me was the fact that even before the troubles began, children were being educated in separate schools to hate one another. So, by August 14, when I was told by Zionist friends that they didn’t care if bloodshed resulted that day, my Zionist sympathies had yanished.”