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Royal Commission Slips Quietly into Jerusalem; Probe Opens Today

November 12, 1936
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The British Royal Commission arrived here this morning to begin its long-awaited investigation into the underlying causes of the recent Arab disorders which in six months took a toll of more than 300 Arab, Jewish and British lives and caused economic destruction estimated at $15,000,000.

The commission comprises six members, under the chairmanship of Lord Peel. It will begin its task with a public hearing tomorrow at the King David Hotel where it established headquarters immediately after arriving.

Cool, sunny weather greeted the party, which came by rail from the Mediterranean port of Haifa as far as Lydda. At the Lydda station, it was met by two newspapermen, some photographers and a representative of High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope.

The party motored into Jerusalem escorted only by two traffic policemen. Quiet prevailed along the entire route.

PARTY ISSUE SHELVED

The political subcommittee of the World Zionist Organization’s general council met yesterday to plan the Jewish policy before the Royal Commission.

David Ben-Gurion, head of the Jerusalem Executive of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, reported on the situation, dealing with problems of immigration and settlement. He said the question of future predominance of Arabs or Jews in Palestine would be considered at the next meeting of the general council.

Mizrachi, orthodox Zionist organization, took a stand against proposals for Arab-Jewish parity, made by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the Jewish Agency, and other Zionist leaders.

Without altering its stand on non-cooperation with the commission, the Arab Supreme Committee, after persistent demands by representatives of the rulers of neighboring Moslem countries, decided yesterday to greet the commission in writing and to send a memorandum outlining its attitude toward the investigation.

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