The nineteen-week-old Arab general strike was believed nearing its end today when the Arab Supreme Committee, meeting with Iraqi and Transjordan diplomats, decided to postpone a decision on continuation of the strike pending the return of Nuri Pasha es-Said, Foreign Minister of Iraq, to Jerusalem.
Indication of the more lenient attitude of the Government to Arab leaders was seen in the release of Auni Bey Abdul Hadi, a leader of the Arab youth movement, from a concentration camp at Sarafend.
The Arab leaders were faced with the prospect of martial law unless disorders are terminated, when they gathered from all parts of the country for the conference.
Among those who attended were members of the unofficial Arab delegation to England, which returned this morning after a tour of several weeks during which they sought to create a favorable attitude abroad toward the Arab cause.
The leaders are understood to have been informed by the High Commissioner, Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, that he intends to declare martial law if the peace negotiations carried on through the mediation of Iraq and Transjordan diplomats fail.
It was learned that Foreign Minister Nuri Pasha, before leaving Palestine, conferred on the situation with Moshe Shertok, head of the political department of the Jewish Agency for Palestine. Temporary suspension of Jewish immigration into Palestine is understood to have been the chief topic of discussion.
Havas News Agency reported that the Arab Supreme Council decided to accept in principle the mediation proposals of the Iraq Foreign Minister and suspension of the strike was seen possible by the end of the week.
Nuri Pasha recommended negotiations based on suspension of all Jewish immigration pending arrival of the British Royal Commission and an amnesty for Arabs taken prisoners during recent clashes, Havas said, adding that it was understood the council reached its decision only after a lively debate.
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.
