“my Hands Are Clean,” Grand Mufti Asserts

To stick to their plows is the common termination of the Judean colonies, but they must have security of life. Under Turkey, they relied on the self-defense, which with Great Britain’s entry, they gladly gave up. The events have proved that it is essential to the colonists to be armed. Wherever a large number of colonists were apt to put up resistance, the Arabs refrained from attacking. There is not a single instance where a large colony was attacked. Rishon never interrupted a single day and harvested a large crop. Optimism is felt throughout the Judean belt.

The massing of 2,000 Bedouins this morning just outside of Tel Aviv under Sheik Abou Kishek, who was the leader of the 1921 attack on Petach Dikvah, later imprisoned and fined, failed to disturb the even tenor of Tel Aviv business. Notwithstanding the confidence of the merchants of Tel Aviv, the colonists insist that the material damage and injury to the creative spirit and initiative, is not to be underestimated.

The banks have decided to continue credits. Dozens of large foreign export houses of Germany and Austria have cabled the Industrial Association of Tel Aviv that they are willing to wait for payments. A meeting of Tel Aviv merchants decided, in spite of the great sacrifice involved, to refuse a moratorium in order to restore nor malcy and confidence in economic life.

Throughout the Judean colonies, greatest gratitude is felt for the American public statesmen for their moral backing in the dark days. It is felt America is still the land of liberty, and Palestine is able to count on America as did Garibaldi, Kossuth, Mazaryk and Ireland who drew inspiration from the people of the United States. America realizes the immense difficulties in carrying, civilization into a land where there is a primitive backward population, having had a similar historical experience.

Passing through the Judean belt after two years absence, your correspondent was amazed at the colossal progress; the wilderness has been pushed back and turned into gardens. He saw apple, pear and plum orchards in bloom and other fruit unheard of in Palestine, until the Jews came.