The Polish Consulate here was bombed today in what was thought to be an Arab reply to the pro-Jewish statement made at the U.N. this week by the Polish delegation. The blast caused slight damage and no casualties.
A few minutes later another explosion was heard in the Rehavia quarter. Police said later that a grenade had been thrown at an armored patrol car. Armed guards are stationed around the U.S. Consulate, which is a logical target for attacks. The Swedish Consulate was bomed earlier this month, apparently in retaliation for the fact that Judge Emil Sandstroem was chairman of UNSCOP.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Jewish community, who have been heartened by the U.S. position, were engaged this week-end in working out a wind-up statement at the U.N. and in girding for internal defense. The Agency met today to discuss both these questions, but no statement was issued.
The Jewish National Council again called on the Yishuv to be ready to meet any possible disorders, at the same time that it appealed to the Arabs for peace. The secretariats of the Palestine Labor Party and the Histadruth also issued “mobilization orders.” The Labor Party held a special conference to map new security precautions and to discuss the steps that will have to be taken prior to Britain’s withdrawal.
Persistent reports from the Arab League council meeting in Lebanon that a provisional government for Palestine had been set up, composed mainly of members of the Palestine Arab Higher Executive, said that its composition would be announced within a few days. The reports say the “government” has already appointed district commanders to take over when the British leave.
It is learned, meanwhile, that two British battalions in Galilee will soon be withdrawn, one to Affuleh, the other to Tiberias, which are now garrisoned by units of the Arab Legion.
Since there have been clashes between settlers in Galilee and legionnaires, the Haganah has reinforced its security provisions in Galilee. However, a Haganah source insisted today that these steps were not taken with a view to meeting a possible border attack, because it is believed accounts of Arab troops from Syria, Lebanon and Egypt moving against Palestine are exaggerated out of all proportion to the facts, although reports tonight said that some Syrian units had arrived on Palestine’s northern border.
(A Foreign Office spokesman declared yesterday in London that if a threat of war developed in Palestine, Britain might consider placing the matter before the United Nations, but added that no such threat had developed. Asked whether, in the event of an armed conflict, Britain would halt the delivery of arms to Iraq, Egypt and Transjordan under the treaties of alliance made with these states, the spokesman replied Britain might consider that possibility.)
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
