Withdrawal of the British civil administration in Palestine, which is slated to be completed by May 15, may be delayed as a result of the current Arab-Jewish violence, a highly placed official indicated today. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency learns that some phases of the evacuation are already behind schedule.
The official said that while the British do not want to be drawn into implementing partition and “are trying to remain as impartial as possible,” British security forces are already stretched almost to the breaking point. The Palestine Administration, he said, is “extremely dissatisfied” with the present series of reprisals and counter-reprisals and is doing everything possible through political means to bring the outbreaks to an end.
He disclosed that the government is not contemplating legalizing the Haganah since it would be complelled to recognize Arab armed forces. The official said that the government feels that the Jewish Settlement Police are able to give only limited protection to Jewish villages and colonies.
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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.
