A surprising story is contained in Al Balagh, the Arabic daily, of a reported conversaton between a prominent Moslem personage and a high ranking Gevernment offcer, obviously meaning Musa Kazem Pasha Al Husseini and General Sir Arthur Wauchope, and the hegotiations that were a preliminary to the granting of licenses to hold Arab protest processions in Palestine.
The moslem personage at first pleaded he was ill, but if the matter concerned a vital Arab national issue he was prepared to meet the distinguished Government officials, asking for the interview, and if it concerned the forthcoming Arab demonstration, he would prefer not to. a these would be held with or without permssion, says the Jerusalem correspondent of Al Balagh.
The Englishman said to the Pasha that he wanted to use his influence to prevent a clash between the Government forces and the Arabs.amoreover, in view of that Moslem dignitrary’s standing in the country since pre-war days and his appreciation of the law, he wished him to ensure that the Arabs would seek permission for their demonstration. so as not the be treated as law-breakers.
EMONSTRATION DISCUSSED
A high Secretariat official went to see the Arab and discussed with him the form of the demonstration, staing that if the Arab Executive asked for permission and submitted teh program there would be no difficulty granting it. The Arab pointed out that it would be a peaceful procession intended to express disturbed Arab feeling over Jewish immigration and purchase of land, and if assurance were given him that it would be permitted, he would exert hi influence over the Arabs to seek the licenses. A personal and confidential letter was sent to the Arab in which the authorities promised to permit the processions.
Another senior official then visited the Arab in the presence of other responsible Arab leaders and said he understooc that the Arab demonstration would be an ordinary festival occasion, celebrating Id al Futr, the end of Ramadhan, so it was permissible But one of the basis of the festival. They hoped to secure their just riths through such a demonstration; it was their protest against the Mandatory authorities. For himself he would like a clash between the authorities and the Arabs over an unlicensed procession, he said, because a nation’s emancipation was won by bloodshed.
ARAB GIVES REASONS
This same-Arab, who is thought to be Aouni Bey Abdul Hadi, then went into a long explanation of the Arab cause, and said he was once told by an English nobeman that if a similar situation prevailed in England as in Palestine of the flouting of Arab rights, blood would flow up to th knees; and perhaps that may yet pappen in Palestine of a solution is not found. The Arabs will not retreat until they obtain recognition of their rights and abolition of the present policy.
“You have lawful ways of protest,” commente the Englishman. “We have tried them out for fifteen years, and nothing came of them.” refoted the Arab, according to the paper.
Ultimately members fo the Bureau fo the Arab Executive met and decided to seek permission for their procession; and this was granted. And details of the preliminary conversations have only just come to light in an Egyptian newspaper. Musa Kazem Pasha Al-Husseini had forbidden their revelation in the Palestine press, it is stated.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
