Hint Martial Law Needed to Restore Order in Palestine

A hint that High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope may have to resort to martial law to restore order in Palestine is contained in an editorial today in the Times, whose editorials frequently mirror Government attitude on important questions. Apparent unwillingness of “some members of the Palestine judicature” to cooperate with the administration in enforcing existing emergency measures, the editorial indicates, may be a deciding factor in such a decision.

Terrorist extortions in Arab villages, the Times points out, are likely to make the rebels unpopular. It suggests that the way to diminish fellaheen support of the terrorism would be to convince them of the administration’s intentions to fulfill the sterner measures under the emergency ordinances.

Because of the failure of some of the judiciary to be “more helpful” in this respect, it is contended, martial law may have to be declared.

Commenting on Colonial Secretary William Ormsby-Gore’s statement in the House of Commons yesterday, the editorial declares his promise to announce the Royal Commission does not clash with the statement of his predecessor, J.H. Thomas, that order would have to be restored before the commission is sent.

The Colonial Secretary, it points out, has abundantly clarified that he has no intention of despatching the commission before order has been established.

In the House of Commons yesterday, Mr. Ormsby-Gore declared there was no question of a change in policy on Palestine before the commission’s findings.

Concerning possible stoppage of immigration pending the investigating body’s deliberations, over which there has been considerable discussion, the Colonial Secretary stated a decision would be made in due course and that it would not be influenced by intimidation.