Palestine Imports Food, Presses A. R. P. Plans in War Crisis

Intensive air raid precautions and stocking up of food supplies reflect Palestine’s nervousness over the international crisis.

Major A. D. Spark, A. R. P. expert called from England by the Palestine Government, has visited towns throughout the country, conferring with municipal and Public Works Department engineers on air raid safety measures. he has also promoted formation of volunteer A. R. P. organizations and women’s first aid groups.

Heavy imports of foodstuffs, especially wheat, in an effort to build up a reserve in case the Holy Land is cut off from sources of supply, have been largely inspired by the Jewish Agency for Palestine and carried out through financial assistance to merchants.

As a result, imports of food, drink and tobacco have shown an increase of more than 35 per cent over last year, according to figures published by the Government Office of Statistics. Total imports in this classification amounted to £325,697 in February of this year, an increase of £87,397 over February, 1938. Most of the increase was in importations of wheat, of which heavy stores are being accumulated.

One of Palestine’s principal sources of food supply has been cut off indefinitely by the order of the French High Commissioner for Syria and Lebanon placing an embargo on all exports of a number of principal foodstuffs as well as several other important products. The embargo includes live animals, milk and dairy produce, potatoes, peas, beans and lentils; wheat, barley, oats, maize and millet; flour, coffee and tea; sugar and confectionery; pharmaceutical products, leather and hides, rubber and rubber products, and wool and cotton.

This measure is interpreted here as aimed, at least partially, to conserve supplies against possible outbreak of war. It is recalled that during the Czecho-Slovak crisis last Autumn both Syria and Egypt imposed embargoes on export of foodstuffs, causing near-panic in Palestine.