Jewish Agency Says Crisis Caused by Kidnappings is Over, Police Hunt Abductors

The orisis precipitated by the kidnapping of Judge Ralph Windham and ex-Major H.L. Collins.is over, a Jewish Agency spokenman told the press today. He added that the “center of gravity of the political problems” has not been altered by the events of the last few days.

The Agency statement came a few hours after the government announced that plans for imposing martial law would not be carried out since Windham and Collins had been released. The government announcement said that the plans “are ready for immediate introduction, but are not being brought into effect at once, since the conditions of the ultimatum for the release of Judge Windham and Major Collins have been met.”

Meanwhile, the search continued for the abductors of Major Collins, who was reported resting comfortably in a hospital following his release last night. Troops were concentrating on the Montefioro and Givat Shaul quarters of Jerusalem in a hunt for the cave where Collins reported he was held. The home of Rabbi Judah L. Fishman, acting chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, which is located in the Givat Shaul section, was raided this morning shortly after dawn.

Hundreds of persons were questioned, and six persons have been arrested so far, and police exchanged shots with a youth they challenged this afternoon while he was carrying a parcel. The boy escaped, abandoning the package which was found to contain some medical appliances and bandages similar to those used on Collins.

JEWISH LEADERS FEEL THREAT OF MARTIAL LAW STILL HANGE OVER COMMUNITY

Jewish circles feel that the threat of martial law still hangs over the community, and that it will be imposed at the first major outbreak. Mrs. Goldie Meirson, chairman of the political department of the Jerusalem section of the Jewish Agency, yesterday conferred with the Palestine Government’s Chief Secretary,Sir Henry L. Gurney, warning him that while imposition of martial law might bring disaster to part of the Jewish community, it would not calm the Yishuv, but rathor engander more bitterness.

While tension in the Jerusalem Central prison, which was the scene of riots Monday and Tuesday, remained high, the government appointed a commission to probe the causes of the outbreaks, which reportedly resulted from a threat by Jewish inmates to strike if Dov Gruner was not spared. The violence spread today to a reformatory in the vicinity of Jerusalem, and four youngsters were hurt in a clash between Arab and Jewish youths.

The Jewish National Council yesterday urged asparation of Jewish and Arab prisoners to prevent further disturbanes. A delegation from the Palestine Arab Higher Committee called at the prison to see the Arab prisoners involved, but was refused permission. The autherities told the Arabs that the situstion was under control.