Censorship of Palestine News Found “incomprehensible”

The attempt of the Zionist Executive to censor news of the Palestine disorders is found “absolutely incomprehensible” by the Yiddische Tageblatt in an editorial on the current situation in the Holy Land.

The editorial is the paper’s answer to a circular letter to newspaper editors from the Executive, urging them to use only reports on the Palestine situation that emanate from its press department.

For such a censorship the newspaper, daily organ of the Agudath Israel, says it “could not find the minutest justification.”

“Quite a controversy,” the editorial begins, “has developed in the Jewish press over whether it is wise to conceal the truth about the latest events in Palestine.

“We have already touched upon this question but only from the informative point of view. Politically such procedure seemed to us consistent. On the other hand, the wish to absolutely conceal the real progression of events was absolutely incomprehensible to us.

“Not having gone into an entire evaluation of the political situation created in Palestine, which was perhaps still premature, we nevertheless could not find the minutest justification for the ‘censorship’ which the Zionist Executive wanted to place on reports from Palestine. Denial of factual events gives food for thought. And why deny them, the attempt to smother reality naturally arouses suspicion that, also from the political point of view, there are serious dangers which are being veiled.

“Such is the case even with strong governments and powerful censors: no sooner does public opinion become convinced that there is something left out than confidence is lost in the stability of the political power.

“The Zionist Executive attempted to imitate the tone of certain great powers. The head of the executive warned the world not to believe anyone but his official statements. Such things arouse great vexation as well as definite political disquiet.”