Palestine, returning to normal after termination of the 175-day Arab general strike, prepared today for the coming of the British Royal Commission, appointed last July to investigate the current disorders.
High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope was reported to have cabled the Colonial Office advising that the time for the Commission’s inquiry had come. The Cabinet had made departure of the six-man commission contingent on termination of the strike and violence.
The commission, headed by Lord Peel, is expected to leave London within a fortnight. All sessions except the first will be closed to the public, it was learned. No parties will be permitted to be represented by counsel.
Curfew restrictions were eased today in Jerusalem and roads radiating from the city while district authorities were meeting to consider completely lifting the curfew. Under the relaxed restrictions, curfew is in effect from nine p.m. until four a.m. in the city and nine p.m. until 3:30 a.m. on the roads.
Easing of tension permitted opening of the harbor at Jaffa, the Arab city where the disorders broke out last April, and a Norwegian vessel–the first in six months–dropped anchor at the port.
Fawzi Bey el Kawkadji, Syrian terrorist leader, regarded as “Public Enemy No. 1” by the Palestine authorities, was reported to have crossed the border into Transjordan with 300 followers.
Before his reported departure, Kawkadji issued a statement urging “all fighters of the Arab rebellion” to obey the appeal of the four Arab kings and the Arab Supreme Committee to halt violence.
Arab terrorism continued, nevertheless, at scattered points and several Jewish settlements were attacked during the night. A band of Arabs raided the home of an Arab orange-grower near Ras-el-Ain, demanding protection money. They uprooted trees and destroyed a waterpump.
The Hebrew daily, Hadashot Achronoth (Latest News) was suspended today by the authorities for three days.
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