File 756/1917 Pt 2-3 ‘ARAB BULLETIN Nos 66-114’ [‎122v] (253/834)

advantage of the absence of residents to institute burglary.
Returning refugees, e.g. the Armenians, are also creating
economic problems which demand solution. Public security,
however, has so far improved that the hour at which all
citizens must be at home has been put later: but it is
probable that further restrictions on domestic lighting will have
to be imposed in the interests of shipping. The people seem
alive to most of the tricks and methods of popular government
and are fertile in complaints and deputations. Their minds
are much exercised at present about coming taxation, the fish
tax, assigned to the Ottoman Public Debt, being particularly
obnoxious to them. No change, however, can be made in that,
under the international principle of carrying on occupied territory
pending a peace settlement. The question of collecting arrears of
Ottoman taxes for the Turkish year 1333, however, is different,
and the case put forward that, owing to extraordinary exactions
by the enemy before his evacuation, and the abandonment of so
many houses, these arrears ought to be written off, may be
listened to.
On the whole, political officers report a distinct improve
ment in public feeling. There is, however, a considerable
malcontent element among the Moslem inhabitants who are
divided in aims, some desiring to live in future under a Turkish
suzerainty, others under a Sherifian, of whose advent they seek a
sign. The former party is strongest in the towns, the latter in
the villages and among nomads. All are apprehensive of what
oui Government and the future may hold in store for the Zionists,
and there is no doubt nothing hampers so greatly our local relations
with the existing non-Jewish inhabitants of Palestine, as the
vagueness of our declaration in favour of Zionism. It is idle to
suppose that any one in possession can feel at his ease in a
.Promised Land !
from the enemy side of the lines come many reports of
great shortage not onlv of food, but of clothes, boots and other
necessaries. n Mid-Syria the Government requisition has
amoune o iom thirty-seven to fifty per cent of the cereal Crops,
fpf k 1,1068 . aie very high, an oke of sugar, for example,
etchmg from sixty to 100 piastres. Deserters from the fighting
thosTwhn ^ 1 - !r 6 P UC !^ more numerous than represented by
™»-«. Th.
a result no rim l\ p e ^ taml y become more sympathetic of late—
eoundls T d oo m 0 Gi ma S rene J W f d ascendi »>cy in Government
chance of coniin^ "xhe^hl’ ‘‘T™’^ U t0 We
been sent to Damascus and th^ W f r ^ ia . ns ar€ \ sa [ d to hav e
-m™ ".•« C .t" “ d oa ™ 1