Palestine Arab Congress Decides on Non-co-operation with Government As Long As Palestine is Denied a

A resolution laying down a policy of non-co-operation with the Government as long as Palestine is denied absolute independence was adopted to-day at what is described as a Palestine Arab Congress held at Nablus attended by 250 invited Arab notables. Invitations were issued to 750 Arab notables, but 500 did not accept the invitations, the absentees comprising the entire opposition to the Grand Mufti, among them such prominent men as Moghanan Effendi, one of the secretaries of the Palestine Arab Executive, Haj Faraj, and all the members of the powerful Nashashibi family, which is headed by Ragheb Bey Nashashibi, the Mayor of Jerusalem.

The Congress also adopted a resolution pledging its supporters not to use any imported articles except such as come from Arab countries.

Mr. Jemal Husseini proposed the resolutions in an address in which he argued that customs dues on imports represent the main source of Government revenue, which, he said, goes to support the Jewish National Home and to maintain the expensive administrative machinery.

A third resolution was expected, calling upon the Arab population to adopt a policy of passive resistance in refusing to pay taxes, but this was not proceeded with. A further resolution was adopted, however, declaring that an understanding with the Zionists is impossible as long as the Zionist principles persist.

The Grand Mufti was not present at the Congress, but he and his views were represented by Jemal Husseini, and Mr. George Antonius, who was one of the Assistant. Secretaries to the Palestine Government at the time of the 1929 outbreak and was one of the witnesses before the Shaw Enquiry Commission, made an appearance at this Congress as an avowed leader of the Arab extremists.

The Opposition to the Grand Mufti appears to be busy now organising the Opposition forces inside the Arab Executive.