Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, British High Commissioner for Palestine, today issued the following statement to a delegation of Arab leaders that had called on him in connection with the Arab-Jewish rioting, which thus far has claimed a toll of seventeen Jewish and four Arab dead with upwards of 120 wounded.
“I am sure that we all deplore the disorders which recently have taken place, leading to a deeply regrettable loss of life. Such disorders can achieve no good and are the direct cause of much bitterness. Therefore, I shall count on you gentlemen to check all forms of disorders, prevent all lawless acts and contradict any false rumors that are likely to disturb the public.
“I consider the security of persons and property essential to the welfare of all the people in every country. Disturbances of the peace do nothing but harm to people without distinction of race and creed. I ask you to explain to those over whom you have influence that the police will not hesitate to quell any disorders so I hope that no further disorders will occur. I also greatly regret that many schoolboys, even young children, are being kept from school. I ask, gentlemen, that you use your influence to cause them to continue their studies.”
Included in the delegation, which was headed by Jamal Husseini, leader of the Palestine Arab Party, were the following: Rhageb Bay Nashashibi, former Mayor of Jerusalem; Abdul Atif Selah and Jacoub Husseini.
The delegation had protested to Sir Arthur against alleged Jewish attacks on Arabs and behavior of the police toward the Arabs.
Husseini, also informed Sir Arthur that the Arabs would refuse to send a delegation to London for a conference there with Colonial Secretary J. H. Thomas on the proposed legislative council.
The High Commissioner suggested that the Arabs defer their formal reply to Mr. Thomas’s invitation for some weeks.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
