British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 60. Historical Summary: August-December, 1940, The period of political Dormancy during the Early Years of the World War.

CHAPTER II.

but were shortly offset by Arab hatred of Italy on her entry into the war, hatred which hardened following the Italian bombings of Haifa in July, August and September. The bombing of Tel Aviv on 9th September was condemned in the Arab press as a barbarous act. Arab envoys who had been sent to Palestine by Haj Amin in May and June returned to Baghdad with unfavourable reports as to the possibility of a revival of the Arab revolt.

17th June, 1940.

It was announced that the military courts would no longer hear cases connected with old offences and that the authority to impose the death penalty had been withdrawn from them.

August, 1940.

Mr. Rutenberg resigned from the Presidency of the Executive of the Vaad Leumi, which was reconstituted, the Revisionists withdrawing their representatives.

September, 1940.

The intention to create separate Arab and Jewish companies of a British infantry regiment (the Buffs) and to open recruiting for these combatant units was announced. Recruits for the Jewish companies came forward immediately but Arab recruiting was slow, partly on account of propaganda inspired by the Mufti from Baghdad.

October, 1940.

Accompanied by an increase in Axis propaganda, a number of former gang leaders returned to Palestine from Iraq hut did not achieve any marked success in an attempt to resuscitate gang activities.

November-December, 1940.

During the autumn of 1940 reports had been received from the Balkans indicating a revival of the illegal immigration traffic. For security reasons, both in the broader and narrower aspects, it was decided that any Jewish illegal immigrants arriving in Palestine in consequence of this revival should not be permitted to remain in the country but should be provided with an alternative place of refuge in the Colonial Empire. On the 1st and 3rd November, 1940, respectively, the steamships "Pacific" and "Milos" were intercepted off the Palestine coast with 1771 illegal immigrants.

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