867N.4016/68
The Consul General at Jerusalem (Wadsworth) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 19.]
Sir: The fortnight under review, I have the honor to report, witnessed a number of developments bearing on public security, some of which betoken better days for this distressed country. On October 10 there arrived at Haifa 2,400 of the expected troop reinforcements and on October 13 a further 1,100 disembarked at that port. The arrival of these troops was timely, for it was generally believed that with the approach of the hour for a final decision by the British Government on Palestine policy, the rebels were preparing to make a supreme effort to impress that Government and world opinion in general with the strength of their movement and its national character.
Their outstanding demonstration of this nature was, of course, the dramatic “occupation” of the Old City of Jerusalem. The origin and development of the Old City crisis up to the night of October 17 were described in my despatch No. 749 of that date.1 On October 18 the Old City remained all but sealed, with intermittent firing from within to which the security forces replied from such vantage points as the roof of the principal Government offices and the (Rockefeller) Museum of Antiquities. A black-white-and-green Arab nationalist flag hoisted over the Damascus Gate was shot down by rifle fire. Several wounded Arabs were brought to the Government Hospital but only one fatal casualty was officially reported.
[Page 977]Late that evening the Government published a supplement to the Emergency Regulations whereby the General Officer Commanding was authorized to appoint military commanders for the several districts, they to be charged with all duties in connection with public security, and providing that the respective District Commissioners become political advisers to such military commanders. Under these regulations Major General Richard U. O’Connor was appointed Commander of the Jerusalem Area (four other military commanders being later appointed to other sections of the country).
General O’Connor acted immediately, and early the following morning two columns of troops, shod in tennis shoes for sure-fooling [footing] and noiseless approach, entered the Old City. They met with little resistance but, their methodical occupation requiring much time, it was not until the afternoon of the 20th that the Old City was brought entirely under control. It was reported that eight Arabs were killed, the number of wounded—probably between one and two score—being uncertain.
While the military authorities are deserving of high praise for the orderly and humane way in which the Government’s authority was restored throughout the Holy City, a natural and by some regretted consequence was that almost no armed rebels were taken and, according to published reports, only “one rifle and 25 rounds of ammunition.” It is generally believed that many of the rebels escaped from the Old City the night before the re-occupation and that others found temporary refuge in the Haram area where their arms remain hidden. Out of consideration for Moslem feeling no direct action was taken against the Haram.
Besides the ordinance aforementioned, several others were promulgated during the fortnight, their collective effect being to render the administrative organization of the country hardly distinguishable from martial law. The following summary review of this legislation, it is believed, will prove helpful:
On October 17 there was gazetted an ordinance providing that in the exercise of his duties the Inspector General of Police be subject to the directions of the General Officer Commanding the Military Forces.
On October 20: an ordinance empowering the High Commissioner to confiscate the immovable property of any person, whether resident in Palestine or not, when the High Commissioner is satisfied that such person is aiding, abetting, instigating or directing acts of violence or intimidation.
On October 21: an ordinance empowering military commanders to regulate, by the issuance of passes or otherwise, to restrict, control, or prohibit the travel on the roads of Palestine of any person.
Under authority of the last mentioned ordinance it was announced that beginning November 1, all males above sixteen years of age who travel the roads of Palestine must have a road pass. (The rebels immediately circulated a notice that anyone caught with such a pass would be immediately shot.)
By this measure the Government hopes greatly to restrict the movements of individual rebels or small groups of them and to prevent their infiltration, under the guise of peaceful citizens, into urban centers for the perpetration of sabotage or other acts of violence. On the other hand, these regulations probably will work considerable hardship on peaceful members of the Arab populace unless the Government effectively patrols the roads. For instance, an Arab-American has pointed out to me that these regulations make it impossible for him to visit his plantation near Jericho. Without a pass he cannot travel, and with a pass his life is seriously endangered. He cannot count on receiving effective protection either on the road or in the vicinity of his plantation.
Fatal casualties among victims of the revolt during the fortnight were: 26 Arabs, including an outstanding political figure, Hasan Sidki Dajani, a Jerusalem Municipal Counselor and supporter of the Emir Abdullah, killed by Arab terrorists; nine Jews and one British officer and two soldiers. Twelve Arabs, 23 Jews and 18 British were wounded, according to official communiqués; and 103 rebels were reported killed and five captured. The year’s death toll has now passed 1500, made up as follows: British police and military, 45; Jews, 225; Arabs, 383; others, 9; Arab “terrorists” (reported killed by police and military), 850; total, 1515. Among other reported victims more than 1000 have been reported wounded, as follows: British police and military, 92; Jews, 480; Arabs, 493; others, 8; total, 1073.
Numerous other reported cases of sniping, sabotage, armed robbery and bombing are indicated in the enclosed tabulation2 (compiled from official communiqués) of the fortnight’s toll of violence. As usual, a record of military court trials is added. Though official communiqués no longer report all cases of sabotage of telephone and telegraph communications, they continue to be numerous and occasionally extensive. On one occasion during the fortnight Jerusalem was again completely isolated from the outside world except for Royal Air Force wireless.
Respectfully yours,