Ext 6116/46(S) 'Secret Weekly Political Intelligence Summaries, nos 356-416, August 1946-November 1947' [‎10r] (19/978)

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citizens in the nascent Jewish State, and
appealing to the Yishuv to exert their
utmost efforts to strengthen the defence
mechanism and to co-operate fully with the
Arabs.
Owing to the absence of most members of
^he Arab Higher Committee from Pales-
une a general political inertia has des
cended on the Arab community. According
to the correspondent of the Observer,
reports are circulating in Jerusalem to the
effect that agents of the Mufti have been
sounding the Jewish leaders on the basis of
a possible agreement between the Mufti’s
faction and the Arab Higher Executive.
There is so far no confirmation of this
rumour, and the Mufti is known to be
planning the formation of a “shadow”
Arab Government for Palestine. He is
believed to have held discussions to this end
with Shukri Quwatli and Azzam. Saleh
Jabr and Samir Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. Rifai have made it
plain that neither ‘Iraq nor Transjordan Used in three contexts: the geographical region to the east of the River Jordan (literally ‘across the River Jordan’); a British protectorate (1921-46); an independent political entity (1946-49) now known as Jordan
was willing to co-operate in these plans.
King Abdullah has gone even further, and
expressed the view that he would like to
see the ban on co-operation extended to the
Arab Higher Executive.
The customary Balfour Declaration Day
protest strike by the Arabs on the 2nd
November passed off without incident. All
work was stopped for two hours.
Syria
Trouble has broken out once more in the
Jebel Druze. On the 26th October there
was a minor clash between the rival Atrash
and Assali factions at Suweida, the capi
tal of the Jebel Druze. These disturbances
are due to the dissatisfaction of the Atrash
(the hereditary ruling faction) with the
Government’s decision to hold fresh elec
tions in the Jebel on the 6th November
instead of accepting the five Druze candi
dates who were elected on the 17th July
(see Summary No. 400). On the 27th
October the Atrash held a meeting at
which it was decided to boycott the
Government and the elections, prevent any
non-Druze official from assuming his post,
sabotage telephone communications and
attack gendarmerie posts. The last two
resolutions have already been put into
effect, for all telephone and telegraph com
munications with the Jebel are now cut,
and several gendarmerie posts have been
attacked. The latest reports are that all
gendarmerie posts have been withdrawn to
Suweida, Salkhad and Shahla for security
reasons. The Syrian Government’s atti
tude is reliably reported to be one of non
intervention, the two parties being allowed
to fight it out among themselves, the
Government then dealing with the
survivor.
So far the new Government (see Sum
mary No. 413) has been reasonably well
received in the country and has been given
a fair press. For the time being they can
count on the support of the President, the
Popular Party and Jamil Mardam’s per
sonal following. Discontent is, however,
being voiced in Christian circles (and
among the sixteen Christian deputies)
owing to the absence of a Christian in the
Government.
Persia
With the exception of the extreme left,
public opinion seems to be solidly behind
the decision of the Majlis to repudiate the
undertakings given by Qawam to Sadchi-
kov in April 1946, and to grant no oil
concession to any foreigners. The relief
that the oil rights in Northern Persia have
not been handed over to a Soviet-con
trolled company is not unaccompanied by
apprehensions about the future intentions
of Russia. In Azerbaijan in particular,
though military action is considered im
probable, other methods of penetration are
expected. The greatest danger there may
perhaps be in the creation by Russian
agents of a situation in which the pro
vince lives in continual uncertainty and
fear of Russian action. This would pre
vent any private capital development by
landlords and businessmen, because of the
insecurity of investment.
It appears that the results achieved by
the Government in developing this pro
vince fall far short of the promises made
by the Shah during his tour last summer.
There is a consequent risk of serious econo-
bic distress this winter, which would create
conditions favourable to Russian propa
ganda. These circumstances, together
with the unfavourable conditions for pri
vate investment, suggest that the only
possible solution for the problems of the
province lies in a vigorous policy of
economic development sponsored and
financed by the Government. In order to
divert attention from the fact that the
attitude of the Majlis was caused by
Russia’s previous interference in Persia’s
internal affairs, Soviet propaganda is
taking the line that the rejection of the
oil agreement was engineered by the
Americans in America’s and not Persia’s
interest.
Though Qawam’s standing is perhaps
higher now than it has ever been, there are
constant rumours of his impending retire
ment. These rumours were denied recently