Jewish Agency Executive Reported Split over Proclaiming Provisional. Jewish Government

A split over whether to proclaim a provisional Jewish government on April 1 as provided for fey the U.N. General Assembly is developing among members of the Jewish Agency executive now meeting in Tel Aviv to decide on Jewish political policy in the light of the American proposal for a trusteeship, it is learned today.

The faction which opposes the immediate formation of an independent Jewish state proposed that the question fee held in abeyance until after April 3 when the Zionist Actions Committee will convene in Palestine. The decision to convoke the Zionist policy-making body was reached late last night. It is expected that the nations Committee meeting will fee followed fey a meeting of the Jewish National Assembly of Palestine.

Meanwhile, the Agency announced this morning that it will make every effort to take over government functions in the Jewish part of Palestine as soon as possible to “avoid the spread of chaos.”

Sharp fighting broke out in the Yemin Moshe quarter of Jerusalem when Arabs from the surrounding neighborhoods attempted to force their way into the Jewish area. Mortars were used and one shell burst outside the Palestine Information Office showering British and Palestinian personnel with glass and mortar.

BRITISH SHELL AND OCCUPY ARAB VILLAGE HEAR JERUSALEM

In the area immediately west of Jerusalem, several companies of British infantry, numbering approximately 500 men, and several tanks, today occupied and Arab village near the Jewish settlement of Hartuv after forcing all Arabs to flee under a {SPAN}##ain{/SPAN} of shells from 25 pound medium anti-tank guns. The occupation appeared to be in retaliation for the murder of two British soldiers who were beaten to death yesterday while a British company supported by artillery broke up a three-day siege of Hartuv and a blockade of the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv road. It was reported that 60 houses were destroyed by the artillery barrage this morning.

The Arab guerrilla force retreating from Hartuv yesterday attempted to launch a full-scale attack on the Rehavia district of Jerusalem.The Jews fought back with the assistance of email artillery support from the British who had gunposts set up in a nearly quarter. The British also sent out two reconnaissance planes to photograph the Arabs who, after firing at the planes futilely, beat a retreat.

In Haifa, according to reports late last night, the blast set off in Iraq Street by four Jews disguised as Britons was followed by some eight more explosions and a general free-for-all engagement. The action continued intermittently for most of the night with damage and casualties believed to be high.

A total of 1,500 Jewish immigrants entered Palestine between Feb. 15 and March 14, it was officially announced today. Half of the immigration certificates were allocated to the detainees on Cyprus, while 338 were distributed to DP’s in the British zone of Germany, 398 were given out by the Jewish Agency’s Immigration Department and 14 were set aside for visaless refugees who arrived in January. At the same time the government announced that it was closing its immigration offices in Tiberias, Nablus, Gaza and Nathanya “because of the impending withdrawal of the administration.”

The Palestine Government also announced today that food supplies will be available for at least two months after May 15. The announcement added that negotiates for obtaining food supplies to extend beyond July 15 have not yet been completed.