Mufti Reported to Have Arrived in Damascus in Route to Arab League Conference in Syria

The ex-Mufti of Jerusalem has arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus, it was reported here today. The report has not yet been confirmed because of the rigid censorship clamped down by the Palestine Government, which has barred any mention of the Mufti or speculation as to his whereabouts.

There has been considerable disquiet in Jewish circles here since yesterday when the statement by the French Foreign Office that the Mufti had left France was first received here. It is assumed that if he has arrived in Damascus, he is en route to the special session of the Arab League now in session in Bludan, Syria. The meeting was called chiefly to discuss action on the Palestine issue.

Dr. Izzat Tunnous, secretary of the Arab Higher Committee, who said yesterday that he had expected that the Mufti would soon arrive in the Middle East, stated today that he had no knowledge concerning the Arab leader’s whereabouts, but added significantly that he was awaiting news from Bludan.

(The Paris newspaper Combat said today that since the French Foreign Office has been able to confirm that the Mufti has left France, it follows that it must be aware of his itinerary. It suggests that the lack of information concerning his departure is a result of an official desire to keep the matter quiet.)

ARAB PARLEY EXPECTED TO ADOPT FAR-REACHING DECISIONS ON PALESTINE

At Bludan, according to information received here, a three-and-a-half hour session was held last night at which the Palestine problem was discussed. It is not believed that any decision was reached. The only official act was to pass a resolution thanking the Arab rulers for the support they have given their brethren in Palestine. It is expected, according to the report, that either tonight or tomorrow the meeting will adopt decisions of far-reaching consequence.

Before the conference went into executive session, representatives of Transjordan and Syria and Abdul Rahman Azzan Bey, secretary-general of the Arab League, expressed support of demands for an independent Arab Palestine. Mohammed Pasha Shureiki, the foreign minister of Transjordan, who is presiding, said that no power on earth could keep the Arabs from obtaining their demands in Palestine. The Syrian Premier, Saaduliah Jabri Bay, said that the Arabs could not permit the large nations to flout Arab opinion and deny the rights of small nations. Azzam Bey voiced the hope that the League would be successful in securing Arab rights in Palestine.

Although several matters of interest to the Arab nations will be discussed at Bludan, Palestine will remain the main item on the agenda. The following aspects of that problem will be discussed: 1- Steps to prevent implementation of the Anglo-American Committee’s recommendation for the admission of 100,000 Jews. 2- Unity among the Palestine Arab groups, which are now badly split. 3- Strengthening the boycott of Jewish goods. 4- Establishment of committees in all Arab countries to support the Arabs of Palestine.