867N.01/10–2947: Telegram
The Consul General at Jerusalem (Macatee) to the Secretary of State
491. Following background for struggle which has commenced between Haganah and Irgun, in which firearms and grenades have for first time been used by Jews against Jews in Palestine.
October 20, representatives of right-wing parties met at Tel Aviv and there denounced Leftist tactics in controlling Jewish Agency and elected assembly. Party newspapers at once took up cudgels and [a]spate of recriminatory editorials ensued. Another meeting same groups took place on October 27, theme being “that Leftists were making preparations to seize power” in future Jewish state through institutions already dominated by them.
Almost simultaneous with first meeting reports of fighting between Haganah and Irgun in Tel Aviv district were received. While Haganah alleges only Irgun used firearms and grenades in October 23 incident at Benyamina, mounting frequency and violence of kidnappings, beatings and armed assaults are causing observers here to wonder whether they represent first stage of long awaited “showdown” between two groups.
Police opinion expressed mytel 436, October 111 to effect steps being taken unite Haganah, Irgun and Stern is hardly borne out by these developments. As recently as October 27, very high-ranking Palestine Government official remarked that prospect in event of partition would be “a little civil war between Irgun and Haganah”. Possibility exists, [Page 1217] however, that two groups would temporarily unite to face common enemy.
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