British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 59. Historical Summary: March-June, 1940, The period of political Dormancy during the Early Years of the World War.

CHAPTER II.

missioner, and others in which there are no restrictions on transfers. These Regulations were approved by Parliament after debate. They came as a surprise to the Jews and evoked a general Jewish strike on 29th February, followed by a week of processions and disorderly demonstrations in the Jewish urban areas. These demonstrations were organized by the Histadruth and received the support of all Jewish parties, except the Revisionists who stood aside. On 6th March Mr. Ben Gurion, representing the Jewish. Agency, informed the G.O.C. (General Giffard) that he was not prepared to take active steps to put an end to the disturbances. Although they were subjected to considerable provocation, on no occasion did the police and military forces open fire on the Jewish mobs. The illicit Hebrew broadcasts, which had been silent since the outbreak of war, opened a new attack on Government policy generally and on the police in particular. Following these events; the opposition of Jewish leaders to recruitment of Jews in the mixed Arab/Jew pioneer corps units hardened and the demand for a Jewish Legion, which had first been put forward even before war broke out, became stronger.

6th March, 1940.

The Land Transfers Regulations were debated in the House of Commons on the fo1Iowing motion*.

“That this House regrets that, disregarding the expressed opinion of the Permanent Mandates Commission that the policy contained in the White Paper on Palestine was inconsistent with the terms of the Mandate, and without the authority of the Council of the League of Nations, His Majesty's Government have authorised the issue of regulations controlling the transfer of land which discriminate unjustly against one section of the inhabitants of Palestine".

The motion was defeated by 292 votes to 129. In the course of this debate Mr. MacDonald explained the reasons for enactment• of the Regulations before the opinion of the Council of the League had been obtained.

June, 1940.

Local politics became obscured bv world events and Iav comparatively dormant for several months. With the entry of Italy into the war the Jewish illegal broadcasts ceased with an exhortation to all Jews to assist the Allies against the common enemy. The defeat of France caused depression in J swish circles; the German victories and the Axis broadcasts impressed Arab opinion;
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*Hansard, Vol. 358, Cols. 411-626.

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