British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume II - Page 903

CHAPTER XXII.

mitted by the Committee was published in order that the views of the Moslem community might be ascertained; but, in view of the riots that took place in August, 1929, it never received the careful and general study by the Moslem community which it required. As a result of political preoccupations since 1929 the matter has not been pursued further.

62. As a result of the disturbances and violence which broke out in 1936, and following the murder of Mr. Andrews, the District Commissioner, Galilee, on the 26th September, 1937, Government was obliged to take certain measures against those whose activities had been prejudicial to the maintenance of public security in Palestine. One of the measures taken (under the Palestine (Defence) Order in Council, 1937) was to deprive Haj Amin Effendi al Husseini of his office of President of the Supreme Moslem Council, and of membership of The General Waqf Committee, of which he was Chairman, with effect from the 30th September, 1937.

63. Haj Amin Effendi al Husseini had used his position as President of the Supreme Moslem Council, through the powers of appointment, dismissal and control vested in the Supreme Moslem Council by the Order of 1921, to build up a powerful political machine. In the interests of public security and the Moslem community alike it was therefore necessary to reform, and ensure the continuance of, the Awqaf services. Accordingly on the 16th October, 1937, the Officer Administering the Government promulgated the Defence (Moslem Awqaf) Regulations, 1937 which, inter a.Zia, empowered the High Commissioner to appoint a Commission composed of a Chairman and two members to control and manage the Moslem Awqaf in Palestine. The Regulations also provided, inter alia, that as from the date of the appointment of the Commission, the Supreme Moslem Sharia Council and the General A wqaf Committee should cease to control, manage or intervene in Awqaf affairs except as the Commission might direct or to exercise any of the powers vested in them by the Supreme Moslem Sharia Council Regulations of the 20th December, 1921, or any other law for the purpose of controlling or managing Moslem Awqaf.

64. The Defence (Moslem Awqaf) Regulations, 1937* also provided that all funds, cash, securities and deposits appertaining to or deposited on behalf of or vested in the Supreme Moslem Council and the General Awqaf Committee on behalf of the Moslem Awqaf should be transferred to and vested in the Commission appointed
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* Laws of 1937, Vol. III, p. 973.

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