The British Government is reliably reported to have recommended to the Palestine administration that it release the arrested leaders of the Jewish Agency, and rumors were current here tonight that they would be freed tomorrow, and the Agency headquarters evacuated.
The final decision of the Palestine Government, to which London is understood to have given full discretion, is still unknown, but High Commissioner Sir Alan G. Cunningham held hurried conferences at Government House today with high officials of his administration and Gen. Sir Miles Dempsey, British commander in the Middle East, who arrived today.
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who will attend the meeting of the Inner Zionist Actions Committee here tomorrow, is reported preparing to fly to London either later tomorrow or Wednesday. He is scheduled to hold a press conference here tomorrow.
Chief Secretary John V. W. Shaw conferred yesterday with Dr. Weizmann at the latter’s home at Rehovoth, and it is reported that release of the Agency leaders was under discussion.
The authorities said today that about 1,000 of the 3,000 persons arrested since the raids began have been released. Those released are mostly young people under 16 and persons’ over 70.
Jews thronged synagogues throughout the country today as the Jewish community observed a day of protest and prayer to proclaim its “dire distress” to the world. The shofar was blown in all synagogues. (See story on mistreatment of Athlit internees on page 3.)
The Arab Higher Committee, which yesterday called for the court martialling of Jewish leaders, today announced that it is sending a delegation to the Vatican to present the Arab case to the Pope. It will be headed by extremist leader Auni Bey Abdul Hadi.
It was learned today that Hilda Dulitzkaia, 60-year-old singer, who was arrested back stage at the Panorama Gardens on lit. Carmel, after singing a group of satirical songs on current topics, has been sentenced to one year’s imprisonment because the contents of her songs were found objectionable. She is now in Bethlehem prison. Miss Dulitzkaia arrived in Palestine in 1940 from Europe, where she also had encountered difficulties with the censors.
A nation-wide conference of the General Zionists in Tel Aviv last night adopted a resolution calling on the Zionist Organization of America and American Zionist leaders “to mobilize all forces for a continued struggle,” urging inner unity in the Jewish community, and opposing negotiations by any responsible Jewish body or individual with the government concerning revision of the Jewish Agency executive.
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.
