High Commissioner Will Not Use Sweeping Powers Given Him; Favors Political Solution

High Commissioner Sir Alan Cunningham, who returned from London on Friday with the most sweeping powers ever granted a High Commissioner since Britain assumed the mandate, does not plan to exercise them, because he is convinced that a solution of the Palestine problem can be found only through political means, and not by military action, it was learned today following a meeting yesterday between Sir Alan and David Ben Gurion, chairman of the Jewish Agency executive.

Ben Gurion, who was scheduled to leave today for London, is understood to have had a cordial discussion with the High Commissioner, covering all the major political issues involved in the Palestine crisis, but not the immediate problems of extremist activity and allied questions.

Reporting yesterday to a meeting of the Jewish Agency executive, Zionist leaders stressed that the British Government has still not disclosed its real intentions concerning a final solution of the Palestine problem. Meanwhile, informed circles warned that the contemplated informal talks between Jewish leaders and the government should not be interpreted as being on the same level as the Palestins conference, which opens Tuesday. The projected talks will merely be “fealers,” they said.

Relations between the Jews in Palestine and the Arabs, which have been of concern to Jewish leaders recently in light of belligerent statements by Jamal Husseini and other Arab spokesmen, were defined last night by Goldie Meirson, head of the political department of the Jerusalem section of the Jewish Agency, addressing a public meeting in Tel Aviv. “We want peace,” Mrs. Meirson said, “but if war is waged against us, we will act. accordingly. We strive for peaceful achievements of our aims of free immigration and independence, but we shall achieve them in other ways if there is no alternative.” At the same time, she counselled against the use of terrorism.

ARAB BAND ATTACKS JEWISH YOUTH GROUP; DISPERSED BY BRITISH POLICE

A new attempt by Arab extremists to stimulate Arab-Jewish tension was made today when a group of young members of the Histadruth who were touring the country near Herzlia were attacked by about 100 members of the Najada, the so-called Arab army, who fired several shots at the youths. They were frightened away by mobile police, who tonight were searching for the attackers.

Police are also hunting for about a dozen army vehicles stolen during the last few days from military installations in various parts of the country, and for a black taxicab which was taken in Jerusalem. Patrols were urged to use caution if they spot any of the vehicles, as they are believed to have been stolen by Jewish extremists for use in attacks against British forces.

The municipal council of Rishon le Zion today challenged the accuracy of an army communique which announced on Friday that a quantity of wire used in making bomb fuses had been found in a factory near the settlement. The council said that the roll of wire was of a type used in binding cases of citrus fruit.

A landmine large enough to destroy a three-ton military truck was discovered and disarmed on the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road during the week-end. Police described the mine as of “particularly ingenious” design.

A report received from Cyprus says that 2,000 Jews at the Caraolas camp there refused today to move to winter quarters at Xylotymbou, allegedly because restrictions on intra-camp movement are more rigid at the latter place.

Mrs, Adale Levy, who has just completed a tour of Jewish communities in Europe, arrived here yesterday. She is on a special mission for the United Jewish Appeal.