British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 874

CHAPTER XXI.

newspapers, which would earn an official warning or suspension.

3. In April, 1936, the Emergency Regulations" were enacted under the Palestine (Defence) Order in Council, 1931. These Regulations authorised the appointment of censors to who,;, were given certain special powers in respect of -

(a) the control of certain postal matter, including press telegrams abroad;

(b) the prohibition of editors and owners of printing presses from publishing undesirable matter under penalty; and

(c) requirement of editors to submit specific or general matter for censorship before publication.

4. In June, 1936, Regulation 11A of the Emergency Regulations was enacted making it incumbent on all newspaper editors already licensed under the Press Ordinance to bold a permit under the Emergency Regulations. This additional requirement was introduced in order to control 'dummy' newspapers, possessing normally dormant licences, which made a habit of reappearing sporadically and temporarily to replace other newspapers which bad been suspended under the Press Ordinance, thus defeating the purpose of that Ordinance.

5. In June, 1939, the Press Ordinance was further amended by the insertion of a new section 19(a) enabling the High Commissioner in Council to suspend the operation of any printing press used for the printing of any newspaper suspended under section 19.

6. In consequence of the war and for its duration the requirement of press censorship was met by continued employment in so far as legal powers were necessary, of the provisions of the Emergency Regulations, 1936, as above described. The duties of Press Censor were carried out by the Public Information Officer, who in this capacity was subject to the instructions not only of the Palestine Government but also of the British Middle East Censorship authorities. He was also responsible for the censorship of outgoing and incoming press telegrams and press articles sent by mail. In August, 1944, these functions were transferred to the Chief Censor, Palestine Censorship. On the abolition of war purposes censorship in Palestine on the 31st October, 1945, compulsory censorship,
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* Now replaced by the Defence (Emergency) Regulations, 1945. (Palestine Gazette 1442 of 27 .9.45, Supp. No. 2 p- 1055) of which Part VIII relates to Censorship.

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